DOT oks P7M for PCR tests for tourism workers

By Leilanie G. Adriano (Staff Reporter)

LAOAG CITY—To boost the confidence of tourists to travel again, the Tourism Promotions Board of the Philippines, the marketing and promotions arm of the Department of Tourism (DOT) has approved PHP7 million for the RT-PCR (reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction) testing of tourism workers in the province.

Covering at least 2,000 DOT-accredited tourism workers composed of tour guides, driver-guides, hotel and restaurant workers among others, RT-PCR testing bearing negative result is required before they can mingle with pre-registered tourists visiting Ilocos Norte.

Xavier Ruiz, tourism operations officer II of the Ilocos Norte Tourism Office said they were able to secure the fund since November last year as they were supposed to roll out the free RT-PCR testing of tourism workers in December if for the rise cases of COVID-19, mostly in this city.

“The free RT-PCR tests of tourism workers is meant to lessen the burden of tourism employers and their workers as they resume operations again under the new normal. This works parallel with our tourists who are also required to submit themselves to COVID-19 tests before they can be permitted entry here,” Ruiz said.

To implement this, members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan presided by Ilocos Norte vice governor Cecilia Araneta-Marcos, unanimously approved Resolution No. 2021-01-250, granting authority to Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Joseph M. Manotoc to enter into a memorandum of agreement with the Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital and Medical Center (MMMH&MC), represented by Dr. Ma. Lourdes Otayza.

The MMMH&MC is a COVID-19 hospital in Batac City and is authorized to perform RT-PCR test among groups and individuals in this northern part of Luzon.

As of Jan. 18, 2021, Ruiz reported a total of 582 tourists—both local and international—visited the province’s major tourism destinations since the re-opening of tourism in October 2020.

“Majority of them are Filipinos and some expats based in the Philippines,” he disclosed.

In Luzon, Ilocos Norte was the first to reopen its borders to tourists on Oct. 15 of last year to jumpstart the local economy.

Only "healthy" tourists from Luzon however are welcome, provided they follow all tourism guidelines when going to the province such as sticking with the travel itinerary with an accredited tour agent and must submit a negative result of antigen test among others.

While in Ilocos Norte, tourists are not allowed to visit public markets and other highly dense areas where locals frequent.

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