Around 11,000 domestic tourists are set to benefit from the government’s subsidized testing agreement signed by the Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Philippine General Hospital (PGH).

The agreement aims to make COVID-19 RT-PCR testing for local tourists cheaper.

The DOT, through the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB), signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the UP-PGH on Tuesday to subsidize 50 percent of the P1,800 RT-PCR testing cost administered by the PGH.

This means that tourists availing themselves of the program will only have to pay for their RT-PCR tests.

A negative PCR test is among the requirements for Filipinos who want to travel within the Philippines.

The partnership aims to encourage more tourists to travel and further revive the economy which was badly hit by the coronavirus pandemic.

Tourism Secretary Berna Puyat said, “Domestic tourism benefits a country in a number of ways. It brings immense opportunities for all, particularly generating jobs and creating entrepreneurial activities to help our economy recover, apart from enabling us to rediscover our pride of place and culture when we visit our diverse sites and enjoy the recalibrated products offered by our destinations.”

Palawan, Boracay, Bohol, Baguio and Ilocos Norte recently opened its doors to local tourists.

Testing will be on a first come first served basis for 100 people daily.