The Department of Tourism (DOT) reiterated that tourists have the option to choose the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) RT-PCR Testing Service that suits their budget.
In a public briefing, Undersecretary Benito Bengzon Jr. stated that the DOT has helped almost 20,000 individuals acquire subsidized RT-PCR tests at the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) and Philippine Children’s Medical Center to make the travel of local tourists easier.
Tourists will only spend ₱750 to ₱900 for the swab test since the DOT will pay a part of the testing fee in the said hospitals.
The tourism department also expressed concern over the fake RT-PCR test results of 6 tourists in Boracay and 2 in El Nido, Palawan.
USec. Bengzon sternly reminded that the government has many ways to identify fake results.
The DOT earlier warned that violators may be slapped with fines and face criminal charges from the local government units (LGUs) which may include imprisonment.
Report from Naomi Tiburcio
