As part of the new protocol implemented at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), a swab test will not be conducted for arriving passengers.
According to the officials, the swab test will be done on the 6th day after the passenger’s arrival which will be at the quarantine facilities and not at the airport anymore.
For instance, the passenger arrived in the country on February 1, the swab test will only be conducted on February 6, which is six days after the arrival while he stays at the quarantine facility.
For countries with the new COVID-19 variant, the number of days for the passengers to have the swab test will be the same.
But before they board their flight going to the Philippines, Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) are required to register online at the Philippine Red Cross where they will be given a QR code. For those non-OFW, they will still be required to fill out an online registration for the QR code but in another way.
An accredited hotel where you can stay for seven days must also be booked before the arrival to the Philippines.
On the day of the arrival, passengers will be checked for their temperature and when symptoms appear, the Bureau of Quarantine puts them in isolation. If no symptom gets detected, they will be taken to the briefing area. OFWs will have a different assigned area from non-OFWs.
They will be assigned a designated hotel while non-OFWs will have to prepare proof that they indeed booked a hotel and will have to pay P4,000 for the swab testing.
“Iisa-isahin na isa-swab sa mga hotel. Noon dito lang natin nasa-swab lahat, ngayon kailangan ng mobile swabbing team para ma-swab ang mga pasahero,” says Undersecretary Raul Del Rosario, NAIA one-stop shops head.
The result of the swab test will be available after one day. If the result appears negative, they will be referred to their local government unit and finish the mandatory 14 day-quarantine periods.
