Swab Test Again Required for Travelers Coming to Baguio City Starting March 19

An UGNAYAN with City Officials went live at the Public Information Office of the City of Baguio Facebook page yesterday, March 17, 2021 (Wednesday). Among the panelists is Atty. Althea Rossana Alberto from the Mayor’s Office, who talked about the revised entry protocols.

During the said UGNAYAN, Atty. Alberto has revealed that the travelers who are coming to Baguio City will again be required to present a negative Antigen or RT-PCR Test.

“Starting on Friday (March 19, 2021) po, we will be requiring again travelers who are coming to the city will be required to present negative results of Antigen or RT-PCR Test conducted within 72 hours prior to entry or they can have themselves tested for Antigen at the Triage Unit. These are for non-residents po.”

– Atty. Althea Rossana Alberto from the Mayor’s Office

“For residents, may option po sila. They can have either the Antigen, RT-PCR, or yung ating artificial intelligence x-ray scanner. Those results are valid for 30 days,” Atty. Alberto added.

Atty. Alberto also further explained the difference between the tests for the residents and non-residents. “So the difference will be, if you are a resident, the tests are for 30 days; if you are a non-resident, and you are bringing the results with you, it should be results of tests conducted within 72 hours before entering po,” she said.

The Latest Entry Protocols for Travelers to Baguio City

Here are the highlights of the latest entry protocols for travelers to Baguio City which will be effective beginning March 19, 2021, as provided by the Public Information Office of the City of Baguio earlier today (Wednesday), March 18, 2021:

• Testing requirement reimplemented

• • The following are required to present negative RT-PCR or Antigen test result conducted within 72 hours prior to entry to Baguio or have themselves tested at the Central Triage – Baguio Convention Center (Antigen test: P350 for Baguio residents; P500 for non-residents and tourist):
    • Non-resident Private Sector Authorized Persons Outside of Residence (APORs) on Official Travel
    • Non-Resident Travelers on personal, leisure, or non-work related travel purposes
    • Tourists
    • Returning Baguio Residents 
  • Other travelers required to be tested or would need negative RT-PCR or Antigen test result, done within 30 days are:
    • Private sector APORs who currently reside, or work, in Baguio City, and travelling daily or weekly through city borders on a home-to-work and vice-versa route
    • Baguio Resident Non APORs returning to the city from personal, leisure, or non work-related travels in other localities

• The following are EXEMPTED from testing:

• • • Government Authorized Persons Outside of Residence (APOR) on official travel
    • Passing through
    • Drop and Go (drivers only)
    • Emergency and Non-Emergency Medical Cases
    • Cargo, Utilities, and those on humanitarian causes
  • Requirement to undergo triage remains 
    • Triage 1 is located at checkpoints
    • Triage 2 is at the Central Triage Unit at the Baguio Convention Center
  • Registration to the city’s registration portals is still required 
    • visita.baguio.gov.ph (tourism and personal/leisure travels) 
    • hdf.baguio.gov.ph (returning Baguio residents and other traveler classifications)
• Strict compliance to minimum public health standards is required

Traveler Classifications and Requirements

Non-Resident APORs on Official Travel 

• Government Sector

• • • Travel order from work/office
    • Employment ID
    • Registration at hdf.baguio.gov.ph
    • NO TEST REQUIRED
    • Triage 2

• Private Sector

• • Travel order from work/office
  • Valid government issued ID
  • Proof of employment or business/employment ID or work-related documents
  • Registration at hdf.baguio.gov.ph
  • NEGATIVE RT-PCR OR ANTIGEN TEST CONDUCTED WITHIN 72 HOURS PRIOR TO ENTRY OR MAYBE TESTED AT CENTRAL TRIAGE
  • Triage 2

Note: If health workers, NO TEST REQUIRED and proceed to Triage 1

Government Workers who currently Reside or Work in Baguio and traveling daily or weekly through city borders on home-to-work and vice versa route

• Valid government issued ID or Certificate issued by the Barangay or residence as proof of employment and current address
• Employment ID
• Registration at hdf.baguio.gov.ph
• NO TEST REQUIRED
• Triage 1

Private APORs, Non-Health Workers who currently reside or work in Baguio and traveling daily or weekly through city borders on home-to-work and vice versa route 

• Valid government issued ID present or Certificate issued by the Barangay or residence as proof of employment and current address
• Employment ID
• Registration at hdf.baguio.gov.ph
• NEGATIVE RT-PCR OR ANTIGEN TEST CONDUCTED WITHIN 30 DAYS PRIOR TO ENTRY OR MAYBE TESTED AT CENTRAL TRIAGE
• Triage 1 

Non-APOR Residents Returning to Baguio from Personal, Leisure, or Non-work-related Travels in other Localities

• Valid government issued ID or Barangay Certificate as proof of residence
• Registration at hdf.baguio.gov.ph
• NEGATIVE RT-PCR OR ANTIGEN TEST CONDUCTED WITHIN 30 DAYS PRIOR TO ENTRY OR MAYBE TESTED AT CENTRAL TRIAGE
• Triage 1

Returning Baguio Resident (RBR)

• Valid government issued ID or Barangay Certificate as proof of residence
• Registration at hdf.baguio.gov.ph
• NEGATIVE RT-PCR OR ANTIGEN TEST CONDUCTED WITHIN 72 HOURS PRIOR TO ENTRY OR MAYBE TESTED AT CENTRAL TRIAGE
• Triage 2

Returning OFWs & Returning Overseas Filipinos

• Valid government issued ID or Barangay Certificate as proof of residence
• Valid Passport, travel documents or ACR I-Card
• Medical Clearance issued by the Bureau of Quarantine at the airport
• OWWA/POEA documents or Seaman’s Book
• Registration at hdf.baguio.gov.ph
• NEGATIVE TEST RESULT OF MOST RECENT RT-PCR TEST CONDUCTED UPON ARRIVAL IN THE PHILIPPINES
• Triage 2

Medical Purpose

• Non-emergency

• • • Valid government issued ID
    • Proof of confirmed medical appointment
    • Registration at hdf.baguio.gov.ph
    • Go directly to the destination health facility/clinic

• Medical Emergency

• • Patients and their indispensable companions, seeking emergency medical aid in Baguio City shall be afforded unhampered passage into the city
  • No requirements
  • Go directly to the medical facility

Drop and Go DRIVER ONLY

• Valid government issued ID
• registration at hdf.baguio.gov.ph
• NO TEST REQUIRED
• Triage 1

Passing Through Only Travelers

• Valid government issued ID
• Registration at hdf.baguio.gov.ph
• NO TEST REQUIRED
• Triage 1

Tourists and Non-residents Travelers on Personal/Leisure or Non-work Related Purposes

• Valid government issued ID
• Duly issued VISITA QTP ( No QTP, NO ENTRY) 
  • Registrants at https://visita.baguio.gov.ph/ are directed to process their applications at least twenty-four (24) hours prior to entering the City
• NEGATIVE RT-PCR OR ANTIGEN TEST CONDUCTED WITHIN 72 HOURS PRIOR TO ENTRY OR MAYBE TESTED AT CENTRAL TRIAGE
• Triage 2

Message to Outbound Travelers

Furthermore, the Public Information Office of the City of Baguio also emphasized that the said guidelines only cover entry to the City of Baguio.

“Other LGUs have their own protocols. Outbound travelers must take the initiative to know and comply with the requirements of their places of destination before proceeding,” stated the information office.

Watch the UGNAYAN with City Officials

Here is the video of the UGNAYAN with City Officials that went live yesterday, March 17, 2021 (Wednesday) at the Facebook page of the Public Information Office of the City of Baguio. Watch from the beginning or start at 7:15 of the video to hear the announcement about the Antigen Test again to be required for travelers coming to the City of Baguio.

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Source: Public Information Office – City of Baguio| March 17, 2021, Public Information Office – City of Baguio| March 18, 2021