KALIBO, Aklan – The quick and less invasive saliva test with negative result for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been approved as a requirement for people wanting to enter Aklan.
Gov. Florencio Miraflores included this is the updated entry guidelines on March 10, except for Boracay Island-bound tourists.
Saliva test is also being used in Hong Kong, France, Japan, and the United States to screen passengers in airports.
The Philippine Red Cross saliva testing is available for P2,000 with a result turnaround time of three to four hours.
Stakeholders are lobbying to the Boracay Inter-Agency Task Force and the National Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases to use saliva test as an alternative to swab tests to bring back tourists to the Island.
Boracay has reopened to tourism but flights from mainland China, South Korea, Taiwan, and Macau to the Kalibo airport remain banned.
The government also decided to ease restrictions by enforcing an island-wide curfew from 1 a.m. to 4 a.m.
Cafes and restaurants are open but with some restrictions.
Boracay tourists must obtain a negative swab test not more than 72 hours prior to arrival to the island
The traveler does not need to quarantine upon arrival in Aklan but must fill out the online health declaration card to generate a quick response (QR) code.
Travelers from outside Western Visayas and entering the province of Aklan (mainland) without a negative swab test should present a Notice of Coordination issued by the local government unit of destination. The traveller is subjected to swab test upon arrival and self-isolated in a quarantine facility./PN
