Local Travelers Can Get a COVID-19 RT-PCR Test for P900

PHOTO BY Jerome Ascano

(SPOT.ph) Leisure travel has now become stricter, with guidelines being regularly released by local government units for those planning to visit. Some require a negative antigen test, but most prefer a certification that arriving tourists have gone through the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction test—the gold standard for testing.

While Cebu Pacific has recently implemented a "test before boarding" scheme for reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) at P3,300, the Department of Tourism announced that Filipinos and foreigners residing in the Philippines who want to travel locally can get a 50% subsidy for the RT-PCR test at the Philippine General Hospital. However, only 100 qualified domestic tourists per day can be accommodated. The regular price of the RT-PCR test at the state hospital is at P1,800.

Also read:
10 Ways Traveling Will Change After the Pandemic
Here's How You Can Get COVID-19 Testing When Flying With Cebu Pacific

Everything you need to know about the DOT's subsidy for RT-PCR testing:

Who are qualified for the 50% subsidy?

• Filipinos
• Foreigners residing in the Philippines (residents, with work, long term, student, or other valid visas)

What documents do I need to submit?

• Copy of two valid government-issued IDs (driver’s license, passport, PRC license, PhilPost ID, UMID, SSS, Voter’s ID, TIN ID, PhilHealth ID, and Senior Citizen ID)
• Copy of confirmed hotel booking at a Department of Tourism-accredited accommodation
• Copy of roundtrip transportation tickets, if applicable

What are the steps?

1. Register five days before departure at https://ift.tt/3p5toF6.
2. Wait for an e-mail about your log-in credentials.
3. Log-in and fill out the Client Investigation Form.
4. Wait for your swab test schedule.
5. The result will be e-mailed to you directly within 24 hours after the test.

The subsidy program with a P10-million budget from the Tourism Promotions Board was formalized in an agreement with the Philippine General Hospital. This runs until June 2021.

Main image taken on September 2 at Makati Coliseum, used for illustrative purposes only.

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Source: Spot PH