Boracay Still Requires COVID-19 Testing for Fully Vaccinated Tourists

The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) approved the new travel protocol allowing vaccination cards as a sufficient alternative requirement when traveling. Instead of presenting a negative reverse transmission polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) result before travel or upon arrival at destination local government units (LGU), IATF Resolution No. 124-B states that a vaccination card is enough.

However, some LGUs raised concerns over the eased domestic travel protocols for fully vaccinated travelers. One of the LGUs that expressed their concerns is Aklan province, which will still require RT-PCR tests for tourists—with or without vaccination cards.

Since RT-PCR test results have been tampered with before, Aklan Governor Florencio Miraflores said that Boracay Island would only consider exempting fully vaccinated tourists from testing if a reliable vaccine vaccination system is available. The Department of Health also noted that LGUs can still require tourist’s RT-PCR tests before entry or upon arrival at the destination.

Furthermore, the retention of RT-PCR test results is not a setback to the island’s recovery, but a slow and sure process, according to Tourism chief Bernadette Romulo-Puyat. Lastly, the local government maintains body temperature screening at airports, seaports, and establishments and contact tracing systems for tourists and workers.

Visit Yoorekka Consumer Magazine for more travel and COVID-19 updates and guidelines in Boracay!