AS DAVAO City shifted to Alert Level 2 status, the City Government will no longer be requiring reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test results to all travelers entering the city effective November 16, 2021.
Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio issued Executive Order (EO) 66 on Monday afternoon, November 15, ordering the removal of 24 to 72 hour negative RT-PCR via land, sea, and air travel to the city.
Duterte-Carpio said the EO comes after former Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque announced on Saturday, November 13, that the entire Davao Region, including Davao City, will be placed under Alert Level 2 until November 30.
According to the EO, the implementation of Davao City Ordinance 0477-21 or "An Ordinance Providing for Mandatory Testing Prior to Entry into Davao City Via the Davao International Airport" will be put on hold following the change in the alert level status in the city.
"There is a need to provide a new guide for travelers entering Davao City by land, sea, or air travel both domestic and international, following the decrease in the number of cases reported and the active vaccination rollout within the city," the mayor said.
Section 1 of the EO states, "No document shall be required for entry into Davao City, except for security checks that may be required by the AFP [Armed Forces of the Philippines] and PNP [Philippine National Police] personnel, for the purpose of anti-crime, anti-illegal drugs, and anti-terrorism operations."
The EO will take effect from 12:01 a.m. of November 16 to January 15, 2022.
Duterte-Carpio said in a radio interview on the same day that the EO will be implemented, regardless of the vaccination status of the travelers.
"Wala na po ta'y RT-PCR diha, wala ta'y card or VaxCert[Ph] Card dinha (There will be no requirement of RT-PCR, VaxCert[PH], or any card in checkpoints) because that doesn't relate to anti-crime, anti-illegal drugs, and anti-terrorism," she said.
The mayor also said that there will be amendments on the existing ordinance on Tuesday, November 16.