The measure was implemented after the city detected a pass-through gap—which means some travelers use fake excuses to enter the city without undergoing proper testing.
This July, the national Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) retracted its early decision to disregard COVID-19 testing when intrazonal traveling. However, Baguio City continues to accept tourists from NCR Plus Bubble that can present valid vaccine cards according to the city government's latest travel guidelines. In addition to this measure, the Baguio City Police Office (BCPO) enforces strict point-to-point border protocols to screen entry of untested travelers who are not willing to undergo testing.
Last July 11, BCPO Operations Officer Lt. Col. Domingo Gambican said that they will be conducting a card or form system. At any entry checkpoint, forms will be given to travelers—which must also be left at the exit checkpoint to make sure that they are just passing through the city. Gambican adds that the identity of the traveler will be communicated via radio at the exit checkpoint.
Since implementing the point-to-point protocol last July 4, reports from the BCPO recorded that 60% of vehicles are just passing through the city. Previously, 41% of vehicles claimed to be just passing through to skip antigen or RT-PCR swab tests, which led to more unchecked travelers staying in the city. In addition, bogus documents and IDs with fake home addresses were also used by travelers to enter Baguio City.
Gambican adds that traffic build-up will be more evident at checkpoints due to the strict enforcement of the protocols.
All details and information in this article are true and accurate as of the publication date. However, while we are making our utmost effort to keep our content as up-to-date as possible, the condition surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic continues to be unpredictable, and the situation develops rapidly. Hence, some information and recommendations may have changed since this article was published. For the latest advice, visit DOH and your LGU's official websites.
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About Denisse Shawntel Tan
Denisse Tan is currently a work in progress: she’s an aspiring writer, artist, and fashion designer! She’s trying to figure out how to manage her time in achieving all of her goals while also taking in life as humanly possible. Aside from art, she’s a big fan of the color pink, disco music, Bratz dolls, and Genshin Impact. By age 35, she plans to travel to New York City 🗽.
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