ILOILO City – The city government lowered the cost of reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) by almost half.
Through Tax Ordinance No. 2021-222 approved by the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP), the city government lowered the testing fee from P1,800 to P800.
Tax Ordinance No. 2021-222 amended Sections 3 and 5 of Tax 2020-216 entitled, “An Ordinance Prescribing the Rate of Fees For Laboratory Services Rendered By Uswag Iloilo City Molecular Laboratory as Amended by Tax Ordinance Nos. 2021-216; 2021-217; 2021-220; & 2021-221 Effective Immediately Until Amended.”
In September, the SP also approved the lowering of RT-PCR rate from P2,500 to P1,800.
In lowering further the rate, the SP pointed out that currently most of the jobs in Iloilo City require RT-PCR testing as part of the employment process.
It added that prospective employees may be discouraged to undergo RT-PCR testing because the price is high, especially for someone who is not yet earning and only about to earn from the intended employment.
“Whereas, the lowering of prices is in line with our aim to provide affordable government services to our people when COVID-19 pandemic seems far from over,” the ordinance read.
Meanwhile, Section 3 of the amended ordinance provides laboratory fee exemption and conditions of the same Tax Ordinance to include residents of Iloilo City needing RT-PCR testing for employment purposes and examinees, examiners, proctors, facilitators, and other similar staff for the purpose of conducting board examinations and bar examinations within the city./PN
