March 29, 2024

The city government of Baguio has maintained its decision to forego the submission of RT-PCR with negative results from fully-vaccinated tourists who intend to come to the city.
Tourists, however, should still register with the Baguio Visita website and subject themselves to triage upon arrival to the city.
Atty. Althea Alberto, executive assistant of the City Mayor’s Office, said fully-vaccinated tourists need not submit RT-PCR with negative results when visiting Baguio.
“The city government of Baguio will stick to Executive Order 79-2021 (the latest travel protocols allowing the use of Covid-19 vaccination card as alternative to testing) until we get the revised IATF resolution,” Alberto said.
She made the clarification in view of the pronouncement of Health Sec. Francisco Duque III on July 7 the agency is bringing back the RT-PCR requirement for tourists.
Mayor Benjamin Magalong has earlier amended travel protocols in the city, which among other things, waived the RT-PCR test requirement for travelers who have completed their Covid-19 vaccines.
The mandatory triage, however, remains and Baguio residents and tourists, must register at hdf.baguio.gov.ph or visita.baguio.gov.ph, respectively.
Travelers are also advised to make sure they have completed their vaccination two weeks before their travel to the city.
Alberto said travelers must pass through the triage upon arrival to Baguio for the city government to verify the authenticity of their documents, such as the QR-coded full-dose vaccination cards or certificates.
She said residents who were vaccinated in Baguio can be easily verified because the city government has a database of vaccinees, but this is not the case for those who were vaccinated in other areas.
“We do not have a national verification system yet for vaccination cards or documents so travelers must still pass through our triage so we could verify their documents,” she said.
While Baguio has eased up its travel restrictions pursuant to national IATF guidelines, the city government is reminding travelers to follow the minimum health and safety protocols and comply with other local policies aimed at safeguarding public health and preventing the spread of the Covid-19. – Jane B. Cadaliga