DILG defends removal of travel authority

The DILG official noted that they consulted with health professionals and recommended that no traveler shall be required to undergo facility-based quarantine unless they exhibit symptoms upon arrival at the LGU of destination

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Tuesday backed the decision of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID) to remove the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) travel authority and medical certificates from the local government unit (LGU) health office and other protocols as requirement for land, air and sea travel in the country.

In a statement, DILG Undersecretary and spokesperson Jonathan Malaya explained that the IATF Resolution 101 — which provides for streamlined protocols across all LGU — was crafted by the DILG in coordination with the PNP, Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines, League of Provinces of the Philippines, League of Municipalities of the Philippines and the League of Cities of the Philippines.

“First, we wish to clarify that the PCR test was never a requirement by the national government. It was some LGU who required it. Now, under the new protocols, the

PCR test may still be required by the LGU of destination,” Malaya said.

“Those travelers just need to check with their LGU if it’s required. But please take note that LGU can only require the RT-PCR test and cannot require the Antigen or rapid tests as a requirement for travel,” he added.

The DILG official also noted that they consulted with health professionals and recommended that no traveler shall be required to undergo facility-based quarantine unless they exhibit symptoms upon arrival at the LGU of destination.

“Therefore, the health assessment of passengers or travelers supervised by medical professionals shall be mandatory upon entry in the port/terminal and exit at point of destination,” Malaya said.

The public should be disciplined in following physical distancing, hand hygiene, cough etiquette and wearing masks and face shields. Discipline first for safe travel.

Malaya stressed that all LGU — regardless if they require PCR tests or not — will conduct clinical and exposure assessment at all points of entry and exit to ensure that only asymptomatic, non-close contact individuals are allowed to travel or move from one LGU to another.

To recall, Vice President Leni Robredo earlier criticized the IATF’s decision harmonizing travel requirements across all LGU because it could trigger the spike in Covid-19 cases.

But Malaya stressed that the criticism over the decision is misplaced.

“When the Vice President said that it was the Locally Stranded Individuals who were responsible for the spread of Covid to the provinces, this was in the early days of the pandemic when our infection rates were high and compliance with minimum health standards were very low,” Malaya said. “A year later, compliance is now high, our active cases are low, and our people know what to do to protect themselves and their families.”

The DILG spokesperson also said that with the travel regulations being streamlined, minimum public health standards which include physical distancing, hand hygiene, cough etiquette and wearing of masks and face shields, among others, shall be strictly implemented by the PNP and local

authorities.

Meantime, Authorized Persons Outside of Residence (APOR) from national government agencies and attached agencies shall provide their identification card, travel order and travel itinerary, and must pass symptom-screening at ports of entry and exit pursuant to IATF Resolution 98-A issued on 4 February 2021.

Malaya said that travelers should also observe health and safety protocols as they are still being strictly implemented.

“The public should be disciplined in following physical distancing, hand hygiene, cough etiquette and wearing masks and face shields. Discipline first for safe travel,” Malaya said.

Citing figures from the National Economic Development Authority, Malaya explained that quarantine restrictions put in place since March 2020 has caused a total income loss of P1.04 trillion that year. On average, that translated to P2.8 billion in salaries lost — or an annual income loss of P23,000 per worker.

“We needed to streamline because we need to revive our economy and address the hunger, loss of jobs and economic opportunities that came as a result of the travel restrictions,” said Malaya.