Mayor Inday Sara Duterte has lifted the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) mandatory requirement for domestic land, sea, and air travel to Davao City from November 16, 2021 to January 15, 2022, after the city was placed under Alert Level 2 status and the continuing downtrend of COVID-19 cases.
The mayor signed Executive Order (EO) No. 66 Series of 2021, also known as “An Order Providing For The Removal of the Reverse Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) Result For Requirement For Travelers Entering Davao City Via Land, Sea, And Air,” on Monday, November 15.
Mayor Dutere, during the Special Hours program of 87.5 Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR) aired on Monday afternoon, November 15, said: “Nagdiscuss napo mi ganina sa nagsulat sa ordinansa no and nag-ingon ko sa iyaha kung pwede we (I and the author of the ordinance discussed it earlier and I told her if we can) put on hold the implementation of the ordinance in view of our alert level 2 status. Councilor Mabel Acosta readily agreed.”
The Davao COVID-19 Task Force also held its regular meeting on Monday morning, November 15.
EO 66 states, “There is a need to put on hold the implementation of Davao City Ordinance No. 0477-21, known as `An Ordinance Providing for Mandatory Testing Prior to Entry into Davao City via the International Airport’ because of the change in the COVID-19 status in the city.”
The Order said all land, sea, and air travelers entering Davao City shall no longer be required to present their 24-72 hours negative RT-PCR test results. Except for AFP-PNP-required security checks for anti-crime, anti-illegal drugs, and anti-terrorism operations, no document shall be required for Davao City-bound travelers.
However, international air passengers arriving in the city, including international passengers arriving through domestic flights, must comply with the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID) requirements and guidelines.
“There is a need to provide a new guide for travelers entering Davao City by land, sea, or air travel both domestic and international, following the decrease in the number of cases reported and the active vaccination rollout within the city,” Mayor Duterte said in her EO.
EO 66 also repealed or modified all other orders or parts thereof that are inconsistent with its provisions.
