DOT would subsidize 50% of cost of COVID-19 swab test at PGH for tourists.
The Department of Tourism (DOT) on Tuesday said that it would subsidize 50% of the PHP 1,800 cost of RT-PCR testing cost administered by the Philippine General Hospital (PGH).
This, as the Department of Tourism said that the agency had signed a deal with the Philippine General Hospital in order to subsidize the COVID-19 swab tests of qualified tourists.
A negative COVID-19 swab test result was a requirement in order to visit many destinations around the Philippines.
The Department of Tourism said that about 11,000 qualified domestic tourists would be able to get their COVID-19 swab test from the Philippine General Hospital.
In addition, the Department of Tourism mentioned that the said program was meant to restore confidence in safe travel and to support the gradual reopening of specific domestic travel destinations in the country.
Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat on Tuesday said in a virtual contract signing that the Department of Tourism and the Tourism Promotions Board were working with stakeholders in order to speed up the reopening of tourist destinations that had put in place safety and health protocols.
“I encourage our kababayans to book their travels now, and hope that this initiative will break the barrier for our domestic tourists to actually make plans, especially in this Christmas season,” Puyat said.
READ ALSO: DOT Considers RT-PCR Test Deal With PGH To Boost Domestic Tourism
In order to avail of the 50% subsidy, the tourist must register to this link five days before the scheduled departure date and must also submit a copy of a valid government-issued ID, a copy of a confirmed accommodation booking, and proof of transportation ticket for the appropriate mode of travel.
Moreover, tourists with approved applications would receive an email from UP-PGH to access the online Client Investigation Form (link here) and be notified of their RT-PCR test schedule.
The Department of Tourism said that applications would be attended to on a “first-come, first-served basis” as the Philippine General Hospital could only accommodate to conduct 100 swab tests per day.
Puyat also said that the swab test subsidy project had a budget of PHP 9.99 billion was aligned with Tourism Promotions Board’s “Safe Bangon Turismo” campaign and was expected to stimulate domestic travel to destinations declared safe by the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) and Department of Tourism — such as Boracay, Palawan, Baguio, Bohol, and Ilocos Norte.
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