All Manila residents returning home from the provinces are required to undergo swabbing or Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) tests before they are allowed to enter their barangays.
The Manila Barangay Bureau in a memorandum to barangay officials said all residents, particularly those returning home starting Jan. 2 onwards, must go directly to swabbing facilities in their respective districts for the test.
They must also stay at the barangay quarantine facility until their test results are released within a day or two.
On the other hand, residents coming from other Metro Manila cities are enjoined to also get tested.
“If returnee will come from within Metro Manila: Returnees may volunteer to get tested, Manila Health Department (MHD) will accommodate them. If returnee will come from outside Metro Manila: Returnees are required to undergo swab testing,” Dr. Arnold Pangan, city’s health officer, said as clarification to earlier information that all Manila residents coming from all other cities and provinces are required to get tested.
City public information office head Julius Leonen said the tests will be shouldered by the city government.
He also said that the policy will be implemented on a “case to case basis” as residents who will just stay overnight outside Manila may no longer need to get tested.
“Case to case basis naman po, if isang araw lang or overnight, and resident naman po talaga siya ng Manila City, then no need na, unless magpa-voluntary swab test siya. Dr. Pangan said they will accommodate them,” he noted.
The move, according to the MHD, is to prevent the further spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the city.
The city government said the swabbing or quarantine facilities and contact details are:
District 1 – Paez Quarantine Facility, 09618977816 or 09286731715.
District 2 – Patricia Sports Complex Quarantine Facility, 09179609112.
District 3 – Arellano Quarantine Facility, 09184044627.
District 4 – Dapitan Sports Complex Quarantine Facility, 09516729122.
District 5 – San Andres Sports Complex Quarantine Facility, 09178031925.
District 6 – Bacood Quarantine Facility –09461430364 or 09086877105. (Joseph Pedrajas)
