FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)
RT-PCR TEST SUBSIDY PROGRAM FOR QUALIFIED TOURISTS WITH PCMC
As of 25 October 2021)

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

 A1.  The RT-PCR Test at PCMC is free, provided the required documents are submitted.

For further details, you may visit: https://www.tpb.gov.ph/press_releases/sars-cov2-covid19-rt-pcr-test-subsidy-for-qualified-domestic-tourists/

The regular price of RT-PCR Testing with PCMC is Php3,577.00 for walk-in clients.  You may call telephone number 8588-9900 local 426 for inquiries.

Q2. WHO CAN AVAIL OF THE 100% SUBSIDY FOR THE RT-PCR TEST?

A2. Filipinos and foreigners residing in the Philippines can avail of the 100% subsidy for the RT-PCR Test with leisure tourism as the purpose of domestic travel and with confirmed transportation and accommodation bookings. Therefore, 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 REGISTRATION CERTIFICATE CARD AS MY VALID GOVERNMENT-ISSUED ID?

A3. Yes, you can apply for the subsidy. Foreigners living in the Philippines who are residents, with long- or short-term work, student, or with 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 residency in the Philippines upon registration. Submitted requirements will be evaluated by the Screening Committee.

Q4. I WANT TO AVAIL OF THE 100% SUBSIDY FOR THE RT-PCR TEST. WHAT ARE THE DOCUMENTS I NEED TO SUBMIT?

A4. You must submit the following documents through the online application site: https://www.tpb.gov.ph/rtpcrphtravel-application/

  1. Copy of two (2) valid government-issued IDs
  2. Copy of confirmed accommodation booking with a DOT-Accredited establishment for leisure and staycation
  3. Copy of roundtrip transportation tickets, if applicable, bearing name and booking reference number**
    • Via air – roundtrip air tickets MNL-destination-MNL
    • Via sea – roundtrip ferry tickets
    • Via land –
      • Public: roundtrip bus tickets
      • Private: copy of Official Receipt/Certificate of Registration and Photo of Vehicle with Plate Number

** Subject to restrictions and guidelines imposed by the LGU and local points of entry.


Q5. WHAT VALID GOVERNMENT-ISSUED IDs CAN I SUBMIT IN MY APPLICATION?

A5. Valid government-issued IDs are the following: Driver’s license, Passport, PRC license, PhilPost ID, UMID, SSS, Voter’s ID, TIN ID, PhilHealth ID, PWD ID, and Senior Citizen ID.

If you do not have any of the IDs listed above, a secondary ID (e.g. student ID, police clearance, NBI clearance, Pag-ibig ID, and the like) can be submitted subject to the approval of the evaluation team.

Q6. HOW MANY QUALIFIED DOMESTIC TOURISTS CAN PCMC ACCOMMODATE PER DAY FOR THE SUBSIDIZED RT-PCR SWAB TEST?

A6. For the Subsidy Program, PCMC can accommodate a maximum of 350 qualified domestic tourists per day.

Q7. CAN I BOOK MY ENTIRE TRIP THROUGH A TRAVEL AGENCY/ TOUR OPERATOR?

A7. Yes, you may book through a DOT Accredited Travel Agency / Tour Operator provided your booking agency/tour operator individually registers for and on behalf of their guests/clients in the RT-PCR system. The Travel Agency / Tour Operator must book their clients only in a DOT accredited establishment.

Q8. I AM WILLING TO PAY THE REGULAR PRICE FOR THE RT-PCR TEST.  CAN I SET A SCHEDULE FOR TESTING DIRECTLY WITH PCMC?

 A8. Yes. The regular price of RT-PCR Testing with PCMC is Php 3,577.00 for walk-in clients.  You may call 8588-9900 local 426 directly for inquiries.

Q9. WHERE IS THE TESTING SITE OF PCMC?

 A9. You may proceed to Gate 3 of PCMC, along Agham Road, Diliman, Quezon City.

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 prior to your departure date. Considering, however, that most open tourism destinations require a 72-hour or 24-hour RT-PCR negative test result prior to departure or scheduled travel date, you will be scheduled for swabbing three (3) days before your travel date.

However, please note that some destinations, particularly Siargao, require that the RT-PCR test be taken 48 hours prior to departure/scheduled date of travel.

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

 A11. Yes.  PCMC is open daily from 8:00am to 3:00pm (including holidays).

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. If booked through a DOT-accredited Travel Agency or Tour Operator, your booking agency/tour operator individually register for and on behalf of their guests/clients in the RT-PCR system.

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

 A13. Yes, you may register using one email address upon registration. However, kindly make sure that each member will have to register individually in the online application form. This is because the approval for the subsidy is 1:1 based on the name of the applicant and does not automatically correspond to companion/s.

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

 A14. No. We regret that the existing process cannot accommodate applications sent less than five (5) days prior to 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. WHERE CAN I FOLLOW UP?

A15. You may follow-up on your application by sending an email to [email protected].

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

A16. PCMC will notify the approved applicant of the schedule for swab testing via email within two (2) days prior to your departure date. Only those who have received confirmation of the swab test schedule will be accommodated.

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

 A17. Your application may be rejected, if:

  1. You sent your application less than five (5) days before your departure date;
  2. You submitted incomplete supporting documents;
  3. You failed to submit proof of residency in the Philippines;
  4. You booked in a non-DOT-accredited accommodation and/or closed accommodation establishment for leisure and staycation;
  5. You failed to submit either or both confirmed accommodation and transportation booking;
  6. Your accommodation booking confirmation does not bear the name of the accommodation property, date/s of stay, and/or booking confirmation number;
  7. Your transportation ticket is not roundtrip and/or does not bear the applicant’s name and/or booking reference number;
  8. Your transportation and accommodation bookings do not reflect the same duration dates;
  9. You have submitted an identification card not included in the above-mentioned list;
  10. Your submitted documents are not clear and readable;
  11. The turnaround time for the test result is 1-2 days. The intended departure date does not meet the prescribed timeline;
  12. The validity date requirement of the RT-PCR test of your chosen destination is 2 days. The turnaround time for the test result of PCMC is 1-2 days;
  13. The subsidy program does not include applicants who are Locally Stranded Individual (LSI), Authorized Persons Outside of Residence (APORs), and returning residents;
  14. Your chosen destination is currently not accepting leisure tourists; and,
  15. PCMC has reached the quota of 350 qualified domestic tourists for the RT PCR Test for the day.

Q18. MY APPLICATION HAS BEEN REJECTED AFTER EVALUATION, BUT I WANT TO CLARIFY THE REASON/S WHY MY APPLICATION WAS REJECTED. WHERE CAN I SEND MY INQUIRY?

A18. For clarification regarding the status of your application, you can send an email to [email protected].

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

 A19. You can coordinate directly with PCMC on the rescheduling time of your swab testing. However, please be advised that PCMC can only accommodate 350 qualified domestic tourists per day on a first-come-first-served basis.

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

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

Q21. CAN CHILDREN ALSO AVAIL OF THE 100% 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 100% SUBSIDY?

 A22. As long as the establishment has a valid DOT accreditation, the application will be accepted for evaluation of the 100% subsidy.

Q23. 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 100% SUBSIDY OF THE RT-PCR TEST?

A23. No, unfortunately, the 100% 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.

Instead, you may refer to this link regarding DOH’s List of Licensed COVID-19 Testing Laboratory in the Philippines, where you can also take your RT-PCR Test (Without DOT/TPB subsidy): LICENSED COVID-19 TESTING LABORATORIES IN THE PHILIPPINES | Department of Health website (doh.gov.ph).

Q24. 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 100% SUBSIDY OF THE RT-PCR TEST?

A24. No, unfortunately, the 100% 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 LSIs returning to their home provinces.

You may refer to this link instead, regarding DOH’s List of Licensed COVID-19 Testing Laboratory in the Philippines, where you can also take your RT-PCR Test (Without DOT/TPB subsidy): LICENSED COVID-19 TESTING LABORATORIES IN THE PHILIPPINES | Department of Health website (doh.gov.ph).

Q25. WHERE CAN I SEE THE LIST OF DOT ACCREDITED ESTABLISHMENTS?

A25. Please refer to the link for the official list of DOT-accredited establishments: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Leuk7tvDQUA2ff36dQNEyc9rTB2fsUXQt6niDCmdFJg/edit#gid=574014400. This link is from the official website of DOT, tourism.gov.ph.

Q26. I CANNOT CLICK MY DESIRED DEPARTURE DATE BUTTON, HOW SHOULD I PROCEED?

A26. Once the maximum allocation of 350 applicants per departure date has been reached, you will no longer be able to select the specific date.

We recommend checking other DOH Licensed RT-PCR Testing Laboratories through this link: https://doh.gov.ph/licensed-covid-19-testing-laboratories or avail the swab tests with our partner hospitals at a regular rate. You may also check for the rates being offered for Philhealth members.

Q27. DOES THE SUBSIDY PROGRAM COVER THE SALIVA TEST?

A27. No. PCMC only offers RT-PCR tests as of the moment.

 

 

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