The city government of Davao issued Executive Order No. 22 Series of 2021 mandating drivers and delivery riders to undergo RT-PCR (Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction) testing starting April 26, 2021 to May 8, 2021 at the Davao Crocodile ParK in Davao City.
The EO or an order “Providing for Heightened Surveillance and Response of Covid-19 Cases in Public Ground Transport and Delivery Services in Davao City” was signed by Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio and released on April 24, 2021.
Section 1 of the EO states the guidelines for surveillance RT-PCR testing of all drivers of public utility transportation and delivery services. The free Covid-19 (RT-PCR) swab testing for all drivers of transportation and delivery services also covers taxicab drivers,van drivers, air-conditioned and non-airconditioned jeepney drivers, habal-habal or motorcycle drivers, tricycle drivers, bus drivers, other drivers of public ground transport vehicles, and motorcycle drivers of food and online item delivery services such as Grab, FoodPanda, Shoppee, Lazada, and others.
The EO also states that drivers do not need to undergo quarantine while waiting for their test results.
The said EO also strengthens the establishment of a drive-through swabbing area at the Davao Crocodile Park to cater PUV drivers as part of the city’s intensified “community surveillance swabbing” that aims to detect more actives cases of Covid-19.
It can be recalled that Mayor Sara issued EO No. 18 ordering community surveillance swabbing and monitoring of persons suffering from influenza-like illness (ILI) like cough, fever, and colds in the communities.
Under the said EO, health authorities have been directed to make regular schedule of surveillance swabbing in business and commercial establishments; public places, including, among others, wet markets, supermarkets, and stores; government offices; private offices and agencies; closed facilities such as Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, Bahay Pag-asa, Home for the Aged, and orphanage; and other barangays and areas deemed high risk by the CHO.
