Gov. Arthur Yap explains his decision to sign Executive Order (EO) No. 57, which opens the opportunity for free independent travelers (FIT) and authorized persons outside residence (APOR) to visit more places in the province.
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 reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test that will be taken on the fifth (5th) day from arrival.
The governor gave his explanation on his decision to sign the EO. He said is decision stems from the goal of the province to loosen the protocol as a way 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 explains that while the movement is towards letting more tourists into the province, the provincial government remains committed to protect the local population from the disease.
He said that Bohol is imposing a “double negative rule” on the FIT and APOR who wants to visit more places in the province.
The governor explains the double negative rule as follows:
A FIT and APOR needs to obtain a negative RT-PCR test result taken 72 hours prior to arrival in Bohol, according to the EO 53 and EO 54.
Any FIT or APOR wishing to visit more places need to get another RT-PCR test taken on the fifth day from arrival. The result should be negative.
Moreover, the governor says that the protocol for FIT and APOR is stricter than the national Inter Agency Task Force (IATF) protocol.