Travel authority, medcert no longer required

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Sunday said travel authority from the Philippine National Police and medical certificate from local government units (LGUs) are no longer required for domestic travel via air, sea or land.

DILG spokesman Jonathan Malaya said the new protocol set by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases was to be implemented nationwide.

A negative coronavirus test prior to travel is also no longer required in certain areas.

Malaya said in special cases, an LGU could only require a reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction test, nothing more. LGUs cannot force a traveler to undergo an antigen or rapid tests prior to travel.

Travelers, however, are still required to comply with minimum health protocols, including the wearing of face masks and face shields, frequent hand-washing and physical distancing.