The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Thursday has directed regional and provincial police units to coordinate with local government units (LGUs) regarding their respective protocols on the entry of travelers.

“Kasabay nito ay direktiba din sa ating mga unit commanders na makipag-ugnayan sa ating LGUs para malinaw ang kanilang gagampanan sa pagpapatupad ng mga protocol laban sa (Along with this is the directive for our unit commanders to coordinate with LGUs for them to be aware of their role in enforcing protocols against) Covid-19 (coronavirus disease 2019),” PNP chief, Gen. Guillermo Eleazar said in a statement.

Eleazar also reminded the public to find out the existing rules on the localities they will visit to avoid inconvenience.

This came as protocols for fully vaccinated travelers are still being finalized by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID).

On Wednesday, the Department of Health (DOH) clarified that LGUs can still require fully vaccinated travelers to present a negative swab test result as a requirement for entry into their jurisdictions.

The DOH added that the previous resolution allowing LGUs to require travelers to present a negative reverse transmission polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test result as entry requirement remains in effect, as they iron out the pandemic task force’s new protocol.

Last week, the IATF-EID approved IATF Resolution No. 124-B allowing vaccination cards as sufficient alternatives to any testing requirements before travel or upon arrival at LGU of destination.

Some local government units, however, expressed concern over the measure on relaxing domestic travel protocols.

For instance, Boracay Island continues to require negative swab test results even for fully vaccinated tourists, citing concerns of tampering with vaccination cards.

On Wednesday, Baguio City announced that online registration for non-residents is still required when entering the city even if they already have their Covid-19 vaccination card.

Navotas City, meanwhile, requires visitors from outside the National Capital Region (NCR) Plus bubble to submit health-related documents before they can be allowed entry into the city.

Visitors need to register at s.pass.ph and submit negative swab test results and a certification from the health office of their origin indicating that they are not a “Covid-19 patient nor a suspected or a probable case”. (PNA)