As the COVID-19 vaccination rollout continues to jab hundreds of Filipinos across the country, the tourism industry opens its doors to local tourists to restart economic production

On October 28, the Department of Tourism (DOT) announced that several local government units (LGUs) with jurisdiction over tourist destinations in the country have finally scrapped their swab test requirement for fully vaccinated guests.

Tourism Secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat said the DOT has been pushing for fewer restrictions and requirements, especially if local travel destinations have high vaccination rates among locals and tourism workers. 

“We thank the LGUs for this development, especially now that the number of tourists are slowly picking up. We hope that in the months ahead, we will achieve a hundred percent vaccination rate so we can push for a big move for tourism revival,” she said. 

See below the local destinations that agreed to remove the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and antigen testing. 

As of October 24:

Cebu province

Lapu-Lapu City

Catbalogan City

Bohol*

Iloilo City*

Negros Occidental*

Clark Freeport Zone (except for those from areas under ECQ)

Subic Bay Freeport Zone

Tarlac (for those from areas under ECQ and MECQ)

Masbate province

Southern Leyte

Tacloban City

Maasin City

Misamis Oriental

*The following areas are required to generate a vaccination certificate generated via vaxcert.doh.gov.ph on top of other travel requirements.

RELATED: VaxCertPH: How to get your digital vaccination certificate

Meanwhile, Boracay Island still requires a negative RT-PCR swab test result for all allowed tourists, including those from the National Capital Region, except those within Panay Island, including Guimaras province.

Puyat noted that the DOT will continue to work with the National Task Force Against COVID-19, the LGUs, and the private sector to ensure that 100 percent of tourism workers in the country will receive their COVID-19 jabs by December 2021.

The DOT advised travelers to check directly with the concerned local government unit for other required entry documents for the remaining destinations. – WhatALife.ph

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Also Read: TRAVEL GUIDE: How to get your One Health Pass QR Code