Domestic leisure travelers can now get a reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test for a subsidized price of only P900. The significantly reduced price resulted from the partnership between the Department of Tourism (DOT), through the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB), and the University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH).
Through the partnership, the DOT will subsidize 50 percent of the P1,800 RT-PCR testing cost administered by the PGH to provide a more affordable RT-PCR test, one of the requirements of a number of tourism destinations and accommodations outside of Manila for domestic travelers.
DOT said the program aims for a safe, more accessible travel for all domestic travelers, and to provide a more affordable option in support of the gradual reopening of local travel destinations.
During the virtual signing of agreement between DOT and UP-PGH for the program, Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said making the RT-PCR test affordable will encourage domestic tourists to make travel plans, especially during the Christmas season.
“Domestic tourism benefits a country in a number of ways. It brings immense opportunities for all, particularly generating jobs and creating entrepreneurial activities to help our economy recover, apart from enabling us to rediscover our pride of place and culture when we visit our diverse sites and enjoy the re-calibrated products offered by our destinations,” Puyat said.
The program aims to provide the RT-PCR test subsidy to about 11,000 qualified domestic tourists. DOT has allocated a P10-million budget from the TBP to fund the subsidy. TBP’s “Safe Bangon Turismo” campaign is expected to stimulate domestic travel to destinations declared safe by the IATF and DOT such as Palawan, Boracay, Bohol, Baguio, and Ilocos Norte.
To avail of the subsidy, tourists must register at https://www.tpb.gov.ph/rtpcrphtravel five days before scheduled departure.
For more details, check out these guidelines prepared by DOT on how to avail of the subsidized RT-PCR test:
