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STATEMENT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM ON PRRD’S SIGNING OF EO 118
The Department of Tourism (DOT) welcomes President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s signing of Executive Order (EO) 118, today, November 4, directing the Department of Health (DOH), in coordination with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), to ensure the accessibility and affordability of COVID-19 tests and test kits for all.
Earlier, Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat appealed to the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) to impose a price cap on the real-time Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) and Antigen tests for COVID-19 to enhance tourism revival by making testing more affordable to travelers.
With a standard cost for RT-PCR and antigen tests, a requirement for entry to destinations around the country and staycations within General Community Quarantine (GCQ) areas, the DOT anticipates an increase in domestic trips as the gradual resumption of tourism activities will bring about local economic revitalization.
Puyat noted that the COVID tests, now made affordable and accessible to Filipinos, will help regain travelers’ confidence to enjoy nature, culture, and heritage destinations.
The tourism chief added that the signing of EO 118 signals the government’s commitment to revive and boost the economy through the slow but safe, and sure revival of domestic tourism.
Published:December 21, 2020
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