Davao International Airport temporarily suspends RT-PCR tests

MANILA, Philippines — Arriving Davaoeños will not be required to take a free Real-Time-Polymerase Chain Reaction Test (RT-PCR) test upon arrival at the Davao International Airport (DIA), for now.
This was confirmed by Davao City Tourism Operations Office (CTOO) head Generose Tecson on Thursday (January 14) saying the city government temporarily suspended the procedure to prioritize a much important measure.
“We are redirecting our resources to address the local transmission since this is the highest in the list of cases now and will resume testing once our Los Amigos COVID-19 Laboratory will start operations,” she said.
She urged neighboring local government units (LGUs) to pick up their locally stranded individuals (LSIs) at DIA.
“Panawagan sa mga LGU especially to pick up their LSIs. From outside Davao City, we don’t allow na hindi sila sunduin,” Tecson said.
The official added that non-Davao City flight passengers may still exit the airport even without the RT-PCR negative test as long as their LGUs will fetch them and they can present other needed documents.
She also said that arriving passengers with negative RT-PCR tests taken within 24 to 72 hours before their scheduled flights to the city are prioritized for exit from the DIA after checking their health declaration forms (HDFs).
For Davao City residents without negative RT-PCR test results to show, the city tourism chief said, “We check HDF and papers. We make sure they follow the requirements. We take note of the vehicles they ride on, especially PUVs. They are given their health monitoring forms because they have to check-in with their BHERTS (Barangay Health Emergency Response Team). The 14- day home quarantine is mandatory.”
Once the Los Amigos COVID-19 Laboratory is fully operational, she said the free RT-PCR testing at DIA will resume.
“We’re just waiting for the permit ng labs natin,” she said.
As of January 13, Davao City has recorded a total of 1,376 active COVID-19 cases; 8,110 recoveries, and 468 deaths from the overall total of 9,954 confirmed positive cases since 2020.