DILG to list local governments requiring swab tests as travel requirement

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) will issue a memorandum circular to local governments nationwide reiterating the removal of local travel documentary requirements and giving them the option to require swab tests before entry of people in their localities.

Jonathan Malaya, spokesperson for the DILG, said his agency would publish the list of localities that would require the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests so the public would not come unprepared when they travel.

“We will make a list of [local governments] that would require RT-PCR tests,” he said.

“[The list] would be disseminated to the public so they would be clear on which [local governments] have the testing requirement,” he said.

In Tuesday’s online briefing, he said the DILG would reiterate Resolution No. 101 of the COVID-19 task force that scrapped the requirement of travel authority from the police and medical health clearance from the local health office.