ILOILO City – Tourists falsifying coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) test results, which are required to enter different destinations, may face hefty fines and possible imprisonment.
The Department of Tourism (DOT) issued this warning after six tourists from Metro Manila faked their reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test results to enter Boracay Island in Malay, Aklan. They later tested positive for COVID-19.
“The DOT appeals to travelers to stop faking travel documents or face fines and criminal charges, which may include the penalty of imprisonment,” it said in a statement.
A negative COVID-19 test result 72 hours before travel is required of tourists who plan to visit the paradise island in Western Visayas.
A hotel confirmation from a DOT-accredited hotel and an accomplished online health declaration are also part of the requirements.
DOT urged local government units (LGUs) to be stringent with visitors’ applications made through their registration system.
Meanwhile, DOT said its Boracay unit is in close coordination with health authorities in Malay on the contact tracing and monitoring of infected tourists.
They are being isolated at the Aklan Training Center.
DOT also reminded the public that subsidized RT-PCR tests for Manila-based tourists are available through the University of the Philippines – Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH) and the Philippine Children’s Medical Hospital (PCMC), at P900 and P750, respectively.
Since December last year, authorities were able to intercept 26 Boracay tourists who submitted fake RT-PCR test results./PN
