Sunday, October 31, 2021

How to Get a Free RT-PCR Test If You're Traveling Locally

PHOTO BY Jerome Ascano

The Tourism Promotions Board said on October 29 that would offer free RT-PCR tests for domestic travelers starting November 1 as leisure travel resumes with the easing of COVID-19 restrictions.>

Up to 350 travelers per day can apply for fully subsidized RT-PCR tests at the Philippine Children's Medical Center in Quezon City, they said.

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How to avail the free RT-PCR test for local travel:

1. Register

Tourists must register online at the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) website five days before the intended travel date. Indicate your travel destination.

Since there will only be 350 slots for free RT-PCR test per day, registration will automatically close once the allocation cap is reached. Multiple registrations are discouraged.

2. Prepare the required documents

Attach the following requirements in your application:

  • Copy of any two government-issued IDs (Driver's License, Passport, PRC License, PhilPost ID, UMID, SSS, Voter's ID, TIN ID, PhilHealth ID, PWD ID, Senior Citizen ID)
    • In the absence of these IDs, secondary IDs like police clearance, NBI clearance, Pag-ibig ID) can be submitted subject to approval of the evaluation team
    • For minors, any copy of the PSA birth certificate, passport, or school ID would suffice
  • Copy of confirmed accommodation booking with DOT-accredited establishment for leisure and staycation
  • Copy of roundtrip transportation tickets indicating the names and booking reference number, if applicable
    • If using a private vehicle, present a copy of the official receipt/certificate of registration and photo of vehicle with plate number

3. Wait for the approval of your registration

TPB will evaluate your documents and inform you of the status of your application five days prior to travel, at most.

Approved applicants will receive an email from the Philippine Children's Medical Center (PCMC) COVID-19 Testing Laboratory,  which includes the swab schedule and copy of the Client Investigation Form. You need to fill out the later completely and electronically; then, print it out for submission on the schedule of your swab test.

Only those with confirmed swab test schedules will be accommodated. Walk-in applicants will be denied.

4. Proceed with your swab test

Be at PCMC on your confirmed swab test schedule. Bring the printed copy of your CIF form and a government-issued ID.

Failure to show up means your 100% RT-PCR test subsidy will be forfeited. If you need to reschedule your swab test, do so at least three days before the new departure date.

Your RT-PCR test result will be sent directly to your email address. For those swabbed in the morning, the test results will be released on the next day between 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Those who were swabbed in the afternoon will get their results the next day between 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

If you need to follow up on your test result, you may call the PCMC COVID-19 Testing Laboratory through telephone number (02) 8588-9900 local 426 between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m.

The full subsidy for RT-PCR test for qualified domestic tourists at PCMC is available only until December 31, 2021, or until funds for this purpose are available.

Those who have already submitted their applications no longer need to send a new one. The subsidy will also be available for tourists who have already applied and whose departure date is on November 1 onwards.


Source: Spot PH

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