Sara: Davao-bound passengers should test negative

However, we now face two pressing issues: 1) rapidly depleting resources and 2) increasing number of confirmed COVID19 cases in the region

Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte Carpio has requested Department of Transportation (DoTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade to require all Davao City-bound passengers traveling via air to submit proof of negative results from tests for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) conducted 48 hours prior to their departure date.

Duterte, who wrote a letter to Tugade on 14 July, requested for the immediate implementation of the requirement to provide results from no less than realtime polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests as she cited two “pressing issues” to support her appeal.

“We have tried our best using our own resources to make sure that we identify early those who may be COVID-19 positive by instituting health screening measures for all arriving passengers. However, we now face two pressing issues: 1) rapidly depleting resources and 2) increasing number of confirmed COVID19 cases in the region,” Duterte said in her letter to the transportation chief.

According to Duterte, the City Government of Davao has been cognizant of its peculiar situation wherein the Davao International Airport located inside the city also serves as the gateway of a number of residents from other local government units which do not have their own airport.

In effect, Davao City has been receiving returning overseas Filipino workers, locally stranded individuals and commercial flight passengers since flights resumed in the airport on 8 June.

However, COVID-19 cases in Davao City have been increasing, with most of these from among returning individuals from Manila.

“We intend to keep the airport open, however, may we reiterate our previous request for your assistance in mandating that all airlines require Davao-bound passengers to submit a negative RT-PCR test result within 48 hours of departure date prior to check-in at the airport of origin,” Duterte said.