The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) reiterated its advisory to local government units (LGUs) that the Certificate of Acceptance by the Receiving LGU is no loner a requirement on the management of Locally Stranded Individuals (LSIs).
Through an advisory released on May 22, 2020, only a Medical Clearance Certification issued by the city/municipal health officer and travel authority are required to be presented upon arrival to the concerned receiving LGU.
The advisory was addressed to all provincial governors, city and municipal mayors, punong barangays, heads of local Sanggunian, DILG regional directors, BARMM regional governor, and all other concerned on the clarification of the use of Acceptance Letter as one of the requirements by the receiving LGU for the returning locally stranded individuals.
Through the National Task Force (NTF) Against Covid-19 Order No. 2020-02, states that all receiving LGUs shall not deny the entry of LSIs with complete requirements, provided that prior coordination was made through the NTF and or the Regional Task Forces (RTFs) and other concerned agencies as deemed necessary.
The order stated that the receiving LGUs, however, may subject the LSIs to its local health protocols and procedures, such as the 14-day quarantine and rapid anti-body testing for Covid-19 disease, that are consistent with the policies by the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases.
The advisory has been reposted by the city government of Davao after receiving query on the Certificate of Acceptance.
Meanwhile, the city government of Davao reminded air passengers bound for Davao City things to follow when exiting or entering Davao International Airport (DIA) such as taking an RT-PCR test 24 hours to 72 hours before departure date at the airport or place of origin as well as present the negative test result at the arrival inspection area of the DIA.
If the passenger fails to secure an RT-PCR negative test result before the scheduled departure, the person must prepare to take the free Covid-19 RT-PCR test at the DIA and wait for the test results inside a government holding facility. The waiting time is between 24 hours and 48 hours, depending on the volume of passengers.
Arriving passengers who were tested 24 hours to 72 hours before departure at the airport or place of origin, but have not received their results, shall be made to wait in the holding facility until a negative result is received and duly inspected.
Likewise, children 12 years old and below will not be tested unless the accompanying adult/s are confirmed Covid-19 positive.
If you are an arriving international passenger, the RT-PCR result taken from a laboratory overseas will only be accepted provided it was taken 24 hours to 72 hours before the domestic departure date.
Passengers with positive RT-PCR results will automatically be brought to Covid-19 facilities and referred to the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC, a public hospital) for a complete medical check-up. Patients who opt to pay for their own medical bills have the option to coordinate with the Dumoy satellite facility of the Davao Doctor’s Hospital (DDH, a private hospital).
Passengers with negative test results shall be duly informed of the result, which they will be be able to access online. They will be immediately released from the holding facility and advised to go on strict home quarantine. They must arrange and shoulder the cost of their own transportation in Davao City or to their LGU of destination.
