Avail the swab test (RT-PCR) subsidy for only P750! ( How to apply)

Boracay, Bohol, Coron, and Siargao are some of the local destinations in the Philippines that are now accepting domestic tourists. Despite the fast-growing confirmed covid 19 cases in the country, the national government supports the reopening of these places for tourism to bring back jobs and livelihoods lost due to pandemic.

If you are planning to visit one of these beautiful destinations, you must to comply with the health and safety protocols and provide the necessary documents prior scheduled travel date. One of the requirements needed by the local government unit when traveling is the Negative RT-PCR Test Result. Please be advised that the test (extraction date) should be taken 72 hours before your flight for this to be valid. 

The cost of RT-PCR Test in the Philippines ranges from P4000 to P8000. I know this is too much and it will bring up more expenses for our trip. No worries, I found a way on how you can get a cheaper swab test in Metro Manila. 

The Department of Tourism and Tourism Promotion Board recently announced the 50% COVID-19 RT-PCR test subsidy for qualified domestic tourists. You can submit your application on this website,

 https://www.tpb.gov.ph/rtpcrphtravel/. 

The first thing you need to do is to choose which facility you want to take the swab test. You can apply and avail from these two facilities: the University of the Philippines- Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH) located in Manila for P900 and the Philippine Children’s Medical Center (PCMC) located in Quezon City for P750. 

Things to Remember

1. It’s advisable to submit the swab test application 5 days before the intended travel date. Please make sure to register online at https://www.tpb.gov.ph/rtpcrphtravel/

2. Applicants must submit a copy of two (2) valid IDs, a copy of confirmed hotel booking, and a copy of round trip transportation tickets (airline/bus/ ferry tickets

3. The Tourism Promotion Board ( TPB)  will evaluate your application and will email you if it’s approved or rejected.  It will take within 48- 72 hours to get their response. In my case, I got the status two days from the day I submitted my application. 

4. The Tourism Promotion Board ( TPB)   will give the reason if your application is denied. No worries, you can email them if you have questions or clarifications about your application.

5. If your COVID-19 RT-PCR test subsidy is approved, your application will be sent to the Philippine Children's Medical Center (PCMC)

6. You will receive an email PCMC with the log-in credentials for the Client Investigation Form (CIF) and for your RT-PCR Test scheduling.

7. The swab test will be conducted 48 hours before the scheduled flight.

8. Failure to show up on the scheduled date would forfeit the 50% COVID-19 RT-PCR test subsidy.

9. The COVID19 RT-PCR test result will be emailed with 24 hours. If you don’t get the result after 24 hours, I suggest calling the swab test facility. 

RT PCR Test Subsidy for qualified domestic tourists frequently asked questions (FAQS)

Q1. HOW MUCH IS THE PH TRAVEL RT-PCR TEST SUBSIDY FOR QUALIFIED TOURISTS IN UP-PGH?

A1. The regular price of the RT-PCR Test in UP-PGH is Php 1,800.00. If you are approved for the 50% subsidy, you will only need to pay Php 900.00 (cash payment only) to UP-PGH.

 

Q2. WHO CAN AVAIL OF THE 50% SUBSIDY FOR THE RT-PCR TEST?

A2. Filipinos and foreigners residing in the Philippines can avail of the 50% subsidy for the RT-PCR Test with leisure tourism as the purpose of domestic travel and with confirmed transportation and accommodation bookings. Chosen travel destinations should only be those declared open to leisure tourists.

 

Q3. I AM A FOREIGNER LIVING IN THE PHILIPPINES. CAN I APPLY FOR THE SUBSIDY AND SUBMIT MY ALIEN CERTIFICATE REGISTRATION CARD AS MY VALID GOVERNMENT-ISSUED ID?

A3. Yes, you can apply for the subsidy. Foreigners living in the Philippines who are residents, with work, long term, student, or other valid visas may avail of the subsidy as long as the purpose of domestic travel is for leisure tourism. You must be able to submit proof/s of your residence in the Philippines upon registration. Submitted requirements will be evaluated by the Screening Committee.

 

Q4. I AM AN OVERSEAS FILIPINO WORKER (OFW) AND I AM REQUIRED TO HAVE A NEGATIVE RT-PCR TEST RESULT BEFORE GOING BACK TO MY WORK ABROAD. CAN I APPLY FOR THE 50% SUBSIDY OF THE RT-PCR TEST?

A4. No, unfortunately, the 50% subsidy for the RT-PCR Test is only intended for domestic travelers with leisure tourism as the purpose of travel. The program does not cover the subsidy of the RT-PCR Test of OFWs returning to their work abroad.

 

 Q5. I AM A LOCALLY STRANDED INDIVIDUAL (LSI) AND I AM REQUIRED TO HAVE A NEGATIVE RT-PCR TEST RESULT BEFORE GOING BACK TO MY HOME PROVINCE. CAN I APPLY FOR THE 50% SUBSIDY OF THE RT-PCR TEST?

A5. No, unfortunately, the 50% subsidy for the RT-PCR Test is only intended for domestic travelers with leisure tourism as the purpose of travel. The program does not cover the subsidy of RT-PCR Test of LSIs returning to their home provinces.

 

 Q6. I WANT TO AVAIL OF THE 50% SUBSIDY FOR THE RT-PCR TEST. WHAT ARE THE DOCUMENTS I NEED TO SUBMIT?

A6. You must submit the following documents in the application form:

• Copy of two (2) valid government-issued IDs

• Copy of confirmed hotel booking in a DOT-accredited and open establishment

• Copy of roundtrip transportation tickets, if applicable (airline/bus/ferry tickets)

•

Q7. WHAT VALID GOVERNMENT-ISSUED IDs CAN I SUBMIT IN MY APPLICATION?

A7. Valid government-issued IDs are the following: Driver’s license, Passport, PRC license, PhilPost ID, UMID, SSS, Voter’s ID, TIN ID, and PhilHealth ID, and Senior Citizen ID.

 

Q8. HOW MANY QUALIFIED DOMESTIC TOURISTS CAN UP-PGH ACCOMMODATE PER DAY FOR THE SUBSIDIZED RT-PCR SWAB TEST?

 A8. UP-PGH can only accommodate 100 qualified domestic tourists per day.

 

Q9. I AM WILLING TO PAY THE REGULAR PRICE OF PHP1,800 FOR THE RT-PCR TEST. CAN I SET A SCHEDULE FOR TESTING DIRECTLY WITH UP-PGH?

 A9. UP-PGH will not entertain walk-in domestic tourists other than those evaluated and endorsed by the TPB who will avail of the 50% subsidy.

 

Q10. CAN I REGISTER MORE THAN FIVE (5) DAYS BEFORE MY DEPARTURE DATE?

A10. Yes, you may register earlier than the five (5) day period before your departure date. Considering, however, that most open tourism destinations require that the RT-PCR test be taken 72-hours before departure/scheduled travel date, you will be scheduled for swabbing three (3) days before your travel date.

 

Q11. MY SCHEDULED DEPARTURE DATE FALLS ON A TUESDAY. IS UP-PGH OPEN FOR RT-PCR SWAB TESTING ON SUNDAYS?

 A11. We regret to inform you that we cannot accommodate your application since UP-PGH does not conduct RT-PCR swab testing on Sundays. Please apply instead under the Philippine Children’s Medical Center (PCMC) subsidy.

 

Q12. IF MULTIPLE TOURISTS ARE INDICATED IN ONE TRANSPORTATION TICKET, WILL EACH TOURIST HAVE TO REGISTER INDIVIDUALLY?

A12. Yes, tourists will have to register individually using different email addresses.

 

Q13. I AM TRAVELLING WITH MY FAMILY/FRIENDS, CAN WE REGISTER USING ONE EMAIL ADDRESS?

A13. To comply with UP-PGH’s policy on the unique email address per applicant for the CIF Form, we require one email address per applicant upon registration.

 

 Q14. WHAT IF I SENT MY APPLICATION LESS THAN FIVE (5) DAYS BEFORE MY DEPARTURE DATE. WILL IT BE ACCOMMODATED?

 A14. We regret that the existing process cannot accommodate applications that are sent less than five (5) days before the departure date considering the evaluation and scheduling work required to process the request to avail of the subsidy.

 

 Q15. I HAVE SENT MY APPLICATION TO AVAIL OF THE SUBSIDY IN UP-PGH. WHERE CAN I FOLLOW-UP?

A15. You may follow-up on your application by sending an email to phtravel@tpb.gov.ph. If you registered under the PCMC subsidy, kindly send the e-mail follow-up to phtravel_pcmc@tpb.gov.ph.

 

Q16. MY APPLICATION HAS BEEN APPROVED TO AVAIL OF THE SUBSIDY. WHAT WILL BE THE NEXT STEP?

A16. Three (3) days before the scheduled departure date, approved applicants will receive an email from UP-PGH with the log-in credentials for the Client Investigation Form (CIF) to be filled up properly and completely. Once the CIF has been submitted, UP-PGH will notify the approved applicant of the schedule for swab testing. Only those who have submitted the CIF online and who have received confirmation of the swab test schedule from UP-PGH will be accommodated. Please wait for the e-mail from UP-PGH three (3) days before the scheduled departure date.

 

Q17. MY APPLICATION HAS BEEN REJECTED AFTER EVALUATION. WHAT ARE THE POSSIBLE REASONS OF THE NON-ACCEPTANCE OF  MY APPLICATION?

A17. Your application may be rejected if:

• You are not residing in the Philippines and/or were not able to submit proof that you are residing in the Philippines.

• You sent your application less than five (5) days before your departure date.

• Your purpose of domestic travel is not for leisure tourism.

• Your chosen travel destination is not yet declared open for leisure tourists.

• You booked in a non-DOT-accredited accommodation.

• Your accommodation booking confirmation does not bear the name of the accommodation property, date/s of stay, and/or booking confirmation number.

• Your transportation ticket is not roundtrip and/or does not bear the applicant’s name and/or booking reference number.

• Your transportation and accommodation bookings do not reflect the same duration dates.

• You have submitted an identification card not included in the list.

• Your submitted documents are not clear and readable.

• Your date of domestic leisure travel is beyond June 30, 2021.

 Q18. MY APPLICATION HAS BEEN REJECTED AFTER EVALUATION CAN I RE-APPLY TO SUBMIT THE CORRECT AND COMPLETE DOCUMENTS?

 A18. Yes, you can reapply using a different e-mail address as long as you submit the correct and complete documents and meet the required timeline of more than five (5) days for the re-evaluation of your application. The system only accepts one e-mail address per application, thus kindly use a different email address for re-application.

 

Q19. WHAT IF I AM NOT AVAILABLE ON THE GIVEN SCHEDULE OF SWAB TESTING? CAN I REQUEST FOR A RESCHEDULING?

 A19. You can email us at phtravel@tpb.gov.ph on the rescheduling of your swab testing. Please be advised that UP-PGH can only accommodate 100 qualified domestic tourists per day.

 

Q20. WHEN IS THE EARLIEST DATE THAT I CAN RECEIVE MY RT-PCR SWAB TEST RESULT?

 A20. UP-PGH shall send the COVID-19 RT-PCR test result directly to you via email within 24-48 hours from the conduct of the swab test.

 

Q21. CAN CHILDREN ALSO AVAIL OF THE 50% SUBSIDY FOR THE RT-PCR TEST?

A21. Based on IATF Resolution No. 84 Series 2020 dated November 19, 2020, Section B No. 8, age restrictions for travelers for tourism purposes may be relaxed upon the determination of local government units, and subject to prior consultation with the DOT, DOH, and DILG, and the development of specific guidelines for this purpose. Thus, we shall process and evaluate applications subject to the submission of the complete documents. Valid IDs for children are any of the following: Passport, School ID, and Birth Certificate.

 

Q22. I BOOKED MY ACCOMMODATION THROUGH AIRBNB. WILL MY APPLICATION BE ACCEPTED TO AVAIL OF THE 50% SUBSIDY?

 A22. The Guidelines provide that only bookings made with DOT-accredited accommodation properties are qualified for the RT-PCR subsidy.

 

Q23. WHERE CAN I SEE THE LIST OF DOT ACCREDITED ESTABLISHMENTS?

 A23. Please refer to the link for the official list of DOT-accredited establishments: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ItyEH5HvQ0vyrWH8uIkanEkgdFctyNJRF7TbF0WZQf4/edit#gid=467765749. This link is from the official website of DOT.

 

 Q24. I CANNOT PROCEED WITH MY APPLICATION BECAUSE THE ONLINE FORM DISPLAYS THE FOLLOWING TEXT: “SORRY! ONLY ONE ENTRY IS ALLOWED. MULTIPLE SUBMISSIONS ARE DISABLED FOR THIS FORM.”

 A24. The online application form system only accepts one email address per applicant. To proceed with your application or re-application, please use a different e-mail address.

 

Q25. CAN SENIOR CITIZENS APPLY THEIR 20% DISCOUNT IN THE SUBSIDIZED RT-PCR TEST?

A25. Senior Citizens are entitled to a free RT-PCR Test in UP-PGH. Please wait for the email confirmation from TPB on the status of your application.

 

Q26. MY TRAVEL DATE IS BEYOND JULY 1, 2021, CAN I APPLY FOR THE SUBSIDY?

A26. No more. The subsidy program ends on June 30, 2021.

 

Q27. I WOULD BE TRAVELING TO EL NIDO, CAN I SCHEDULE MY SWAB TEST A DAY EARLIER?

A27. Destinations such as El Nido and Siargao require a 48 hour RT-PCR test validity from the time of extraction to the time of arrival at the airport. In case you wanted to have it set a day earlier, you have to accomplish and sign a waiver so we can accommodate your request.

 

Q28. WHERE DO I FOLLOW-UP MY SWAB TEST RESULTS?

A28. You may email UP-PGH at opswab.dot@gmail.com

 

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