THE Department of Tourism (DOT) on Tuesday backed calls to impose a price cap on coronavirus tests amid the country’s push to reopen the pandemic-hit tourism sector.
In a statement, Tourism secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat appealed for a price cap on the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests, considered the gold standard for COVID-19 testing, and the antigen test, a cheaper but less accurate alternative.
“The DOT supports the call to impose a price cap on RT-PCR and antigen testing to make traveling an affordable option for all,” Puyat said.
Last week, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles told TeleRadyo that the government was studying the imposition of a price cap on coronavirus tests after reports surfaced that diagnosis could go as high as P9,000 in some facilities.
“Although it is a private enterprise pero nasa public health emergency naman po tayo. It is well within the powers of the government na kumbaga i-regulate natin para ‘di naman sobra-sobra ang sinisingil nila,” Nograles earlier said.
The inter-agency task force leading the country’s pandemic response has allowed non-essential overseas travel of Filipinos provided that they have confirmed roundtrip tickets, travel and health insurance, a declaration acknowledging the risks of travel and trip delays and a medical test within 24 hours of departure that clears them of COVID-19.
However, the additional costs for travel have deterred some Filipinos from travelling as some destinations require COVID-19 testing before they are allowed to enter, according to the Philippine Travel Agencies Association. (ABS-CBN News)
