Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 1) — People in Metro Manila and nearby provinces can now travel to areas under modified general community quarantine, government officials announced on Tuesday.
Secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat on Tuesday said a resolution issued by the Inter-Agency Task Force allows trips between NCR Plus and areas under the lowest quarantine status, meaning people of all ages can travel for leisure.
Romulo-Puyat said this development will help revive local tourism.
The secretary said the resolution requires individuals under 18 years old and over 65 to present a COVID-19 test result, but she later clarified that those who fall within the 18 to 65 age group should also show test results if required by local governments of their destinations. Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque also made the same clarification earlier.
"Allowed na ang interzonal, pero kinakailangan po point-to-point lamang. Wala po siyang age restrictions pero meron pong testing-before-travel requirement," he said in a media briefing.
[Translation: Interzonal travel is allowed but it is limited to point-to-point trips. There is no age restriction, but the testing-before-travel requirement is there.]
Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal — collectively dubbed as NCR Plus — are under general community quarantine in the period June 1 to 15.
Boracay
The Aklan provincial government also announced it is allowing tourists from NCR Plus to enter Boracay.
Aklan Provincial Inter-Agency Task Force Chairperson Selwyn Ibarreta said Governor Florencio Miraflores gave the go signal to accept tourists after his virtual meeting with the Department of Tourism. The province is under MGCQ.
"We just want to clarify the guidelines regarding the RT-PCR test requirement that it is applicable to all ages except those who are 2 years under", Ibarreta added.
Saliva and nasal swab test results were the main requirements to enter the tourist island. Other guidelines include a QR-code from the provincial validating team.
Ibarreta said there is no specific date yet as to until when visitors from NCR Plus can go to Boracay since it will depend on the guidelines of the national government.
Aklan-based journalist Carla Doromal contributed to this report.
Source: CNN Philippines (https://cnnphilippines.com/news/2021/6/1/NCR-Plus-MGCQ-travel-test.html?fbclid=IwAR0NK-dJf3RfEbmKrDPzvukMM-oZH7oo06zX3I0vZsEMaMgqry5gSeMsOYI)
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