Mayor Sara Duterte on Monday (November 15) issued Executive Order (EO) Number 66 providing for the removal of the negative swab test result for travelers entering the city through land, sea, and air.
This requirement has been lifted after the city was placed under less strict Alert Level 2 status due to the continuing downtrend of COVID-19 cases.
Sara said there is a need to put on hold the implementation of Davao City Ordinance No. 0477-21, known as `An Ordinance Providing for Mandatory Testing Prior to Entry into Davao City via the International Airport' because of the change in the COVID-19 status in the city.
“No document shall be required for Davao City-bound travelers,” the EO reads.
Thw EO also states that all land, sea, and air travelers entering Davao City shall no longer be required to present their 24-72 hours negative RT-PCR test results.
However, all passengers will still be subjected to security checks by the military and police for anti-crime, anti-illegal drugs, and anti-terrorism operations.
Meanwhile, international air passengers arriving in the city, including international passengers arriving through domestic flights, must comply with the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID) requirements and guidelines.
"There is a need to provide a new guide for travelers entering Davao City by land, sea, or air travel both domestic and international, following the decrease in the number of cases reported and the active vaccination rollout within the city,"the EO further reads.
EO 66 also repealed or modified all other orders or parts thereof that are inconsistent with its provisions.
The order shall take effect from November 16, 2021 to January 15, 2022.