Allow antigen testing for emergency travel — ULAP president

MANILA, Philippines — The president of the Union of Local Authorities in the Philippines (ULAP) is calling on the national government to allow antigen testing as an alternative to RT-PCR test for travelers who were not able to plan for their trips.

ULAP President and Quirino Governor Dakila Carlo Cua noted on Monday that it takes a longer time for results of RT-PCR tests to be released, which can become a hurdle in emergency travels.

“The PCR requires two days or more for the result to come out and we will honor two days validity of the test. Ganun ang protocols ng IATF. Now someone who is traveling under emergency will arrive. Hindi niya napagplanuhan, hindi sya nakapag-RT PCR, darating sa iyong border, syempre hindi mo na ma-RT PCR ‘yun,” Cua, also the Chairman of the League of Provinces of the Philippines, told ABS-CBN News Channel’s Headstart.

(The PCR requires two days or or more for the result to come out and we will honor two-day validity of the test. That is the protocol of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Diseases. Now someone traveling under emergency will arrive. He was not able to plan for his trip so he was not able to take an RT-PCR test. Once he arrives at your border, you cannot ask him for an RT-PCR result.)

“Kaya nga ang sinasabi namin, kung ganoon at hindi nakapaghanda ang tao, i-allow na natin ang antigen [testing] upon arrival so that there is at least some form of screening at the border if the LGU thinks it has to be required, exactly for the traveler who has not been able to prepare kasi emergency ‘yung kanyang pagpunta,” he added.

(That’s why what we are saying is if the traveler was not able to prepare, let us allow antigen testing upon arrival. Through this, there is at least some form of screening at the border if the LGU thinks it has to be required, specifically for the traveler who was not able to prepare because he was traveling under emergency.)

Cua said LGUs previously requested the use of antigen testing as a requirement for border entry, whether for emergency or not, instead of RT-PCR test. However, he noted that this proposal was rejected as experts ruled that antigen testing should not be a standard in determining whether a traveler can be allowed entry in a city or province.

However, he also said that some LGUs have been using antigen test to screen arriving travelers.

“We requested that we be allowed to instead apply the antigen tests which has not been approved and yet other LGUs have been implementing it. So ganoon ang nangyayari ngayon. That’s why siguro may kaunting confusion, may burden sa ating mga mamamayan. The science really has to be sorted out. Sana payagan,” he said.

(We requested to be allowed to use the antigen testing which has not been approved and yet other LGUs have been implementing it. So that is what is happening now. That’s why I think there is some confusion and burden to the people. The science really has to be sorted out. I hope they will approve our proposal.)

Cua also noted that it would be good for regions to have a “bubble” that implements a common travel protocol.

“That’s a great idea for regions and even larger than regions to have a bubble that agree on certain travel protocol. That’s really ideal and that’s something that we have been trying to work on,” he said.

In February, the IATF issued Resolution No. 101 stating that COVID-19 testing for travelers is no longer mandatory unless LGUs make it a requirement.

Later in July, the pandemic task force also agreed to leave the discretion to LGUs on whether to require fully vaccinated travelers to present negative COVID-19 test results. The IATF also said LGUs may accept a vaccination card as an alternative to RT-PCR test under Resolution No. 124-B.

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