Davao, Zamboanga lift swab test for travelers

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — Starting today, fully vaccinated travelers need not present a negative RT-PCR or reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction test result when entering the cities of Davao and Zamboanga.

The city government of Zamboanga and the local inter-agency task force (IATF) lifted the requirement after noting a steady decrease in COVID cases.

Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio yesterday issued an executive order (EO), which removed the negative swab test requirement for visitors.

The order said no other document should be required from the visitors, except when undergoing security check by police and military personnel.

Duterte-Carpio’s EO said passengers of international flights including those arriving through connecting domestic flights should comply with the guidelines set by the IATF for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases.

Visitors to Zamboanga City will only be required to present their vaccination cards and S-Pass permits at any point of entry.

Travelers must have also received their second dose of COVID vaccine at least 14 days before the travel, the city government said.

Fully vaccinated travelers coming from areas with higher quarantine restrictions like those under Alert Level 4 are required to present negative antigen test results, taken within 24 hours before the travel at any accredited laboratory of the Department of Health.