CLARK, PHILIPPINES — Qualified foreign and local travelers, including Balikbayans, flying in and out of Clark International Airport (CRK) can now avail of subsidized Real-Time Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) test of the Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) Philippines. TPB formalized partnership with the Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA) and Jose B. Lingad Memorial General Hospital Center (JBLGHC) for the RT-PCR Subsidy Program in Central Luzon during the ceremonial MOA signing held virtually last 23 February.
“This program is part of the DOT and TPB’s efforts to promote domestic tourism with an incentive to the traveling public. Now, we will be extending the subsidy program to Central Luzon to ignite domestic travel in the region via Clark Airport to our countries’ major destinations,” said TPB Chief Operating Officer Maria Anthonette C. Velasco-Allones.
The RT-PCR Subsidy Program in Central Luzon will run until June 2022 offering free RT-PCR tests for 4,400 qualified unvaccinated or partially vaccinated domestic tourists and a 50% discounted rate for 575 foreign travelers or Balikbayans.
Meanwhile, partner agencies, BCDA and JBLMGH, expressed their full support and cooperation for the successful implementation of the program. BCDA appointed Luzon International Premiere Airport Development (LIPAD) Corp, manager, and operator of Clark International Airport, to do the vetting process.
“BCDA is honored to help Philippine tourism get back on its feet. We trust that this partnership will give air commuters peace of mind that travel through CRK is protected and safe. This program should also encourage travelers and Balikbayans to spend their hard-earned money for local tourism,” said BCDA Officer-in-Charge Aristotle Batuhan.
“We, at JBLMGH, are committed to providing timely and quality testing results to the clients that we will be catering to. We will do our very best to provide a smooth and pleasant experience for all as we fully support this project,” said JBLMGH Chief II Dra. Monserrat Chichioco.
TPB-DOT RT-PCR Subsidy Program was launched in December 2020 as part of the recovery program of the agencies with Philippine Children’s Medical Center (PCMC) and University of the Philippines – Philippine General Hospital (UPPGH) as partner health facilities. To date, the program has benefitted more than 45,100 qualified domestic tourists.
With this expansion, TPB and DOT are optimistic that it will harness and restore confidence of the public to travel particularly in regions 1, 2, and 3, and also sustain the newly revived flights from Clark to Boracay and Cebu, bringing in a total of 5,884 travelers moving domestically every month.
In a statement, LIPAD Chief Executive Officer Bi Yong Chungunco said, “We hope that with this program, passengers, through CRK, will have more opportunity to finally travel and be with their families. We are very thankful to the Department of Tourism, TPB, and BCDA for supporting Clark International Airport and our passengers, especially those who are missing their loved ones and are waiting for the chance to come home.”
To avail RT-PCR test, travelers must first register online to pre-schedule at https://www.tpb.gov.ph/rtpcrtravel-centralluzon/ and submit a valid government-issued identification card, proof of hotel booking in a DOT-accredited accommodation establishment, and proof of mode of travel such as airline or bus ticket.
Aside from constantly exploring opportunities to help with tourism and economic recovery, LIPAD is also currently busy getting the Clark International Airport Terminal 2 ready. The consortium, composed of industry experts Filinvest Development Corporation, JG Summit Holdings Inc., Philippine Airport Ground Support Services, Inc., and Changi Airports Philippines (I) Pte. Ltd., is now conducting Operational Readiness and Airport Transfer (ORAT) exercises, which are necessary for operational certification.
