MANILA – Flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) will provide free reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests to select overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and their dependents from Dec. 21 to 31, the airline announced on Thursday.
These OFWs and dependents bound for Manila should be from Dubai, Doha, Dammam, and Riyadh.
When asked why the carrier chose the OFWs coming from those areas, PAL spokesperson Cielo Villaluna said those are the routes where there is a significant number of OFWs coming home for Christmas.
"Out flights to Manila from (those routes) covering the period of Dec. 21-31 will be carrying a significant number of OFWs who are reuniting with their families for Christmas. Hence, PAL management decided to give them this holiday privilege -- free RT-PCR testing (upon) arrival," Villaluna said in a Viber message.
To avail of the free testing, passengers must register via this link: https://bit.ly/MNLPALeCIF, at least three days before flight departure. The RT-PCR test will be done in PAL's own One-Stop Shop (OSS) located at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 2.
Results will be released within 24 hours, according to PAL.
Earlier, PAL lowered the cost of the RT-PCR test at its testing facility in Manila, to PHP3,300 starting Dec. 12, from the previous price of PHP4,000.
The test may be availed of either through walk-in or drive-through at PAL Learning Center at 540 Padre Faura Street, Ermita, Manila. (PNA)
