Gov. Arthur Yap is looking at asking the Bohol mayors to allow a more lenient set of protocols for returning locally stranded individuals (LSIs), which could be similar to the protocols for free independent travelers (FITs) or for authorized persons outside of residence (APORs) under Executive Order (EO) No. 57.
The governor, during an exclusive radio interview conducted by Ardy Araneta-Batoy and Dave Albarado on Monday, Dec. 21, 2020 over dyTR’s Open Forum program, revealed his plan to ask the mayors for a more lenient set of protocols for the LSIs and the OFWs.
He said that an LSI or even a returning overseas Filipino worker (OFW) does not need to undergo a reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test prior to his/her arrival in the province.
He added that the LSI and OFW only need to get a travel authority, medical certificate and a certificate of acceptance from the receiving local government unit (LGU) prior to his/her arrival.
As there is no RT-PCR test requirement for the LSI or OFW prior to his/her arrival here, the returning LSI or OFW needs to be placed under quarantine for 14 days, the governor bared in the interview.
It is in this connection that the governor will be making an appeal to the Bohol mayors for the latter to allow the LSI and the OFW to go home or break their quarantine if they are able to obtain a negative RT-PCR test result which is to be taken on the fifth day upon arrival in the province.
Currently, an LSI or an OFW, who obtains a negative RT-PCR test result taken upon arrival or anytime during his/her stay in the quarantine facility shall be allowed to continue with the quarantine for a period of 10 days in a private quarantine facility, approved by the Rural Health Unit.
In a telephone interview yesterday, Dec. 26, 2020, Dauis mayor Marietta. Sumaylo, who is also the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) Bohol chapter’s president said the mayors have yet to discuss the appeal of the governor for a more lenient protocol for LSI or OFW.
He said that the earliest the mayors can discuss the possible new piece of protocol is after the holidays.
DOUBLE NEGATIVE RULE
The governor pointed out the double negative rule for FIT and APOR. It means that FIT and APOR need to obtain a negative RT-PCR test result twice before they can be allowed to go anywhere in Bohol.
A FIT or an APOR needs to submit a negative RT-PCR test taken 72 hours prior to arrival in Bohol.
Moreover, FIT and APOR shall be allowed to go anywhere in Bohol after they obtain a negative RT-PCR test taken five (5) days upon arrival here, per EO 57.
This is what the governor calls the double negative rule.
In the case of LSIs and OFWs, they are not covered by the double negative rule as they are not required to undergo swab tests and obtain a negative RT-PCR test result prior to arrival in Bohol.
The governor, in the same radio interview, said he is appealing to mayors to consider the test taken five days after arrival here to be enough to let the LSIs or OFWs return home to their respective families or break their quarantine stay.
GUV’S POSITION ON EO 57
In the same radio interview, Yap explained the rationale behind his issuance of EO 57.
The Bohol Tribune ran a story about EO 57 last issue.
The full text of the EO was published on page 27 of The Bohol Tribune’s Dec. 20, 2020 issue.
The EO stipulates that a FIT or an APOR may visit places outside the tourist bubble or outside the designated place of work or business upon obtaining a negative RT-PCR test taken on the fifth day from their arrival.
He said his decision to issue the EO stems from the goal of the province to encourage more visitors to the province and help in the revival of the tourism industry in the province.
EO 57 amends EO 53 and EO 54.
The governor revealed that his administration will see to it public health is protected even if the provincial government is looking to invite more tourists.
Moreover, the governor says that the protocol for FIT and APOR is stricter than the national Inter Agency Task Force (IATF) protocol.
The IATF protocol for tourists stipulates testing upon arrival. If a tourist tests negative he/she can freely move around. This is in contrast with EO 57 where a tourist need to wait for five days before he/she can be tested and be allowed to go anywhere upon obtaining a negative RT-PCR result.