Non-local tourists of Boracay still required to show RT-PCR test — provincial exec

MAJOR ATTRACTION Boracay’s stunning sunset is one of the major attractions on the resort island in Aklan province. INQUIRER file photo / JACK JARILLA

MANILA, Philippines — Non-local tourists who are traveling to Boracay are still required to present a negative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test despite being fully vaccinated against COVID-19, Aklan Provincial Health Officer Dr. Cornelio Cuachon said on Tuesday.

During the Laging Handa briefing, Cuachon said that those who are exempted to show an RT-PCR test are fully vaccinated tourists coming from Capiz, Antique, Iloilo, Aklan, and Guimaras.

Fully vaccinated tourists from the said provinces must present their certification from VaxCertPH, among other requirements.

“So, ‘yung mga local tourist po, pwede na sila pumunta dito kung sila po ay fully vaccinated at mayroon po silang certification ng VaxCertPH. Kung wala po silang certification coming from the VaxCertPH, so kailangan po nilang may negative RT-PCR,” Cuachon explained.

(So, local tourists are now allowed to go here if they are fully vaccinated and they have a certification coming from the VaxCertPH. If they have no certification, they need to present an RT-PCR test.)

Meanwhile, unvaccinated individuals from the exempted areas and tourists coming outside the said provinces should submit a negative RT-PCR test.

“Sa ngayon po ‘yung mga tourist coming from NCR (National Capital Region) or Metro Manila ay ganun pa rin po ‘yung requirement — ‘yung negative RT-PCR,” Cuachon said.

(Currently, tourists from NCR or Metro Manila still have the same requirement — a negative RT-PCR.)

Cuachon also said that there is a possibility to further ease travel restrictions once Boracay fully vaccinates 70 percent of its population.

Almost 91 percent of tourism workers in Boracay are now fully vaccinated while around 62 percent of the community’s nearly 34,000-population are fully immunized against the coronavirus.

“So, kung ma-achieve na po natin ‘yung 70 percent na fully vaccinated ng isla ng Boracay — kasi may population siya na almost 34,000 — so may possibility po na luluwagan na po natin ‘yung mga travel restrictions,” Cuachon said.

(So, if we achieve the 70 percent vaccination of individuals in Boracay Island — which has a 34,000 population — there is a possibility to ease travel restrictions.)

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JPV