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DOT welcomes easing of age restrictions for interzonal travel
As the country continues to gradually reopen its economy, the Department of Tourism (DOT) welcomes the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases’ (IATF-EID) move to ease restrictions allowing interzonal travel for kids and fully vaccinated seniors.
Such a move followed the DOT’s proposal to ease age restrictions for interzonal travel, allowing those who are below 18 years old, and those above 65 years of age who are fully vaccinated, to take trips on a point-to-point (P2P) basis in areas under general community quarantine (GCQ) or modified GCQ (MGCQ), subject to guidelines to be issued by the DOT and the regulations of the Local Government Unit (LGU) of destination.
Tourism Secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat expressed her satisfaction with this development, citing its significance in the revival of the country’s local tourism industry.
“Further easing of travel restrictions will allow more of our fully vaccinated individuals to enjoy interzonal travel, especially families who wish to travel together. Traveling is a way of bonding, and with all the precautions and protocols in place, we can still do it safely together. More importantly, this will encourage more Filipinos to secure their jabs as well,” Puyat said.
“As restrictions are lifted, more tourism workers and stakeholders will get back the jobs and livelihoods they lost due to the pandemic,” she added.
The Department said the IATF-EID now allows fully-vaccinated individuals with comorbidities and pregnant women to enjoy point-to-point interzonal travel to areas under GCQ and MGCQ, provided that they have received their vaccine shots in full.
The DOT shall be releasing guidelines for such P2P travel to ensure that health and safety protocols are complied with. RT-PCR tests will only be required for the said individuals should the LGU of destination require a negative result.”
Travelers from Metro Manila can avail of a P750 discount on their RT-PCR test from the Philippine Children’s Medical Center (PCMC) by visiting www.tpb.gov.ph/rtpcrphtravel-application.
Published:October 8, 2021
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