Governors on Thursday said they favored COVID-19 testing for travelers before they are allowed entry to prevent the spike in infections in Metro Manila from spilling over into the provinces.
The national government recently removed travel authority and health certificates for local travel but left COVID-19 testing to the discretion of governors and mayors. The League of Governors supports test before entry, said its head, Marinduque Gov. Presbitero Velasco.
"Defenseless po at very vulnerable po yung mga probinsya at mga lungsod dahil tinanggal na po yung travel authority, tinanggal na yung medical certificate, wala nang quarantine para sa asymptomatic," Velasco told Teleradyo.
Velasco said provinces have begun reporting infections that were traced to returning residents called LSI (locally stranded individuals). Most LSIs are from Metro Manila, where authorities are battling a surge in cases.
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"Ang hinihiling po namin para mayroon naman po kaming paraan para malaman po kung positive 'yung papasok. Upon arrival dun sa port of entry na iallow po ang LGU na magprescribe ng PCR test, saliva test or antigen test," Velasco said.
Some cities in Metro Manila have locked down communities and reimposed or lengthened curfews to arrest the spike.
Vaccinations began last week, but is limited only to frontliners as the government grapples with tight global supply.
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