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13 hospitals in Metro Manila reach 100% bed utilization rate for COVID-19 patients—DOH – Manila Bulletin

13 hospitals in Metro Manila reach 100% bed utilization rate for COVID-19 patients—DOH – Manila Bulletin
mb.com.ph - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from mb.com.ph Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.

DOT calls for cheaper COVID tests to encourage Pinoys to travel

Published July 16, 2021, 10:59 AM Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat on Friday, July 16 urged health facilities to lower the cost of their swab tests to encourage more people to travel and hasten the recovery of the tourism industry from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. (Jansen Romero/ File photo/ MANILA BULLETIN) Puyat said a cheaper option will lead to more domestic trips without sacrificing the test-before-travel requirement of most local government units (LGUs) as COVID-19 testing remains “expensive and out-of-reach” for budget-conscious travelers. “The added cost of COVID-19 tests can be quite significant especially for big families traveling together. A slash in the cost of RT-PCR tests would encourage more travelers to pursue their travel plans,” Puyat explained.

Is It Really Safe to Travel During the Pandemic?

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, in 2019, the tourism industry’s contribution to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was 12.7%, equivalent to ₱2.48 trillion over 10% higher than that of the previous year. But when the pandemic hit in 2020, this was reduced to more than half at only 5.4%. In February this year, Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said that 4.8 Filipinos working in the tourism sector were affected by the pandemic. But now that restrictions are easing in most parts of the country, DOT is reviving the country’s tourism. “One advantage in the Philippines is that we have a wide domestic tourism base,” shared DOT Usec. Benito Bengzon Jr. in a mix of Filipino and English during a Panayam sa Panahon TV interview. “We don’t solely depend on foreign visitors. Filipinos themselves can help boost our economy. So, we call on our fellow Filipinos to support the reopening of travel destinations while following health

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