Sotto supports swab-upon-arrival policy in Cebu

Senate President Vicente Sotto III. Senate PRIB file photo / Henzberg Austria

MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Vicente Sotto III backed on Wednesday the executive order and provincial ordinance of the Cebu government implementing the COVID-19 swab-upon-arrival policy in the province, saying it is a “win-win” solution for both the returning Filipinos and the government.

“I strongly support E.O. No. 17 Series of 2021 of Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia and Provincial Ordinance No. 2021-04 of the Cebu Provincial Board implementing the Swab-Upon-Arrival Policy in Cebu,” Sotto said in a statement.

Sotto said that guidelines of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases “give additional burden to our Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) and Returning Overseas Filipino (ROF) by requiring them to spend their time and hard-earned money to stay in hotels and accredited quarantine facilities for a minimum of 10 days from arrival and swab test done only seven days from arrival.”

The Cebu provincial board earlier approved an ordinance supporting the protocols pushed by Garcia, who issued EO No. 17 mandating the testing of OFWs and residents based abroad upon their return to the province.

After a negative result within 24 hours, the returning travelers are sent home to undergo 14 days of quarantine with supervision of their respective barangays, under the provincial guidelines. The second swab test will be done by the LGU after another seven days.

Sotto said the initiative is a “win-win” situation for both OFW, ROFs and the government as the process still includes the IATF-required quarantine and swab test.

“In this manner, the IATF-required quarantine and swab test have not been violated. The purpose for which these protocols were put in place has not been defeated,” the Senate president said.

“It’s actually a win-win situation for both the OFWs and ROFs and the government. This is an innovative, safe and reasonable protocol especially for our OFWs. I’m looking forward that this best practice will be implemented throughout the country,” he added.

Garcia earlier said the region will implement its own rules for testing and quarantining of Filipinos returning to the country via Mactan Cebu International Airport despite IATF’s order that prompted Malacañang to divert all Cebu-bound international flights to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport until June 5.  Faith Yuen Wei Ragasa, Inquirer.net trainee

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