The Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) on Monday urged air travelers to wait first for the result of their COVID-19 swab test before going to airport terminals to prevent the spread of the virus.
“I am appealing to passengers to be responsible travelers and to mind both their safety and that of others who will be taking the same flight with them,” said MIAA general manager Eddie Monreal.
Monreal made the appeal on the heels of multiple apprehensions made by airport guards tasked to inspect travel documents of departing passengers bound for both local and international destinations.
From January 1-15, 2022, at least 68 passengers were intercepted at departure areas. Most of the travelers claimed that they did not check their results before heading for NAIA.
In 2021, more than 570 passengers were also intercepted by airport and airline authorities and prevented from boarding their flights after having found to be carrying positive RT-PCR results.
“We can’t tolerate this. The airlines are duty-bound to follow the regulations of the country of destination. There is no chance that a passenger can skip being checked of this very important requirement -no way at all,” he said.
On the “No Vaccination, No Fly” domestic passengers are also reminded to be ready with their vaccination cards and valid government-issued ID with photo as these documents will be required from them upon check-in.
A lawmaker meanwhile said COVID-19 swab test prices “are not written in stone” and the rules in determining them call on the government to order price cuts whenever market conditions warrant.
Senator Joel Villanueva also said “the mandated price for RT-PCR test is not forever,” he said, referring to the “gold standard” in detecting COVID-19. He urged government agencies in charge of test pricing to be more proactive in bringing down mandatory RT-PCR price ceilings “to reasonable levels.”
He noted that RT-PCR tests could cost as much as the “equivalent of more than eight days’ pay” of a minimum wage earner in Metro Manila. A plate-based RT-PCR test taken at home is capped at P4,360, some P1,000 of which is the home service fee.
The cheapest, at P1,000, in public hospitals and facilities, could still be astronomical for families who earn just enough for basic necessities.
The current prices are set by Department of Health Circular No. 374, which took effect on Sept. 7, 2021.
It set the price caps for RT-PCR tests at P2,800 for plate-based and P2,450 for GeneXpert in public laboratories, and P3,360 for plate-based and P2,940 for GeneXpert in private laboratories.
In Quezon City, Rep. Alfred Vargas filed a bill making COVID-19 testing free for jobseekers and vulnerable workers in micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and the informal economy.
The proposed “Free COVID-19 Testing to Promote Labor Act,” also looks after employees who are excluded from current free testing packages under PhilHealth, as well as small businesses and job-makers who could no longer bear their workers’ regular costly tests, Vargas added.
However, it directs that COVID-19 test results shall not be used to discriminate against employees or circumvent and defeat protections for labor.
Under the proposed law, public COVID-19 Testing Centers are required to set aside a percentage of their daily testing capacity for covered workers. The DOH will also incentivize accredited private COVID-19 Testing Centers that allocate a similar proportion.
The initial implementation of the law will be charged against PhilHealth and subsequent funding will be included in the annual general appropriations.
Citing reports from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Department of Labor and Employment’s, the lawmaker emphasized that the pandemic has triggered an unprecedented rise in unemployment and underemployment, creating a crisis that affects millions of Filipino families.
“Our laws, like this bill, must look after those who have less in life.” With Macon Ramos-Araneta and Maricel Cruz
