Foreign tourists welcome in Cebu as long as protocol-compliant

CEBU, Philippines —  Vaccinated and unvaccinated foreign nationals coming into the country can enter Cebu, as the Philippines has now opened its borders to foreign guests for business and travel purposes.

Under Governor Gwendolyn Garcia’s order, vaccinated foreign nationals form visa-free and visa-required countries including those with no vaccines yet but comply with the protocols set by the Capitol are accepted in Cebu.

Under EO No. 3 of Garcia, aside from presenting proof of vaccination, fully vaccinated foreign nationals from visa-free countries must present negative RT-PCR test taken within 48 hours prior of their departure from their country of origin. They must have valid tickets for their return travel to its port of origin or next country of destination not later than 30 days from the date of arrival in the Philippines.

They must also have valid passports valid not less than six months and must travel insurance.

“Once admitted in Cebu, they shall no longer be required to undergo facility-based quarantine but shall self-monitor for any sign or symptom for seven days with the first day being the date of arrival,” read part of the EO.

For those foreign guests from visa-required countries, they must present Entry Exemption Document issued under the rules of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF). They must also show proof of vaccination and negative RT-PCR test taken within 48 hours from their country of origin.

They will not be required also to undergo quarantine but have to self-monitor.

For the unvaccinated or partially vaccinated foreign nationals, starting March 1, 2022, Cebu Province will also allow them to enter Cebu under certain conditions.

First, they must also present negative RT-PCR test result taken within 48 hours. Upon arrival at the Mactan Cebu International Airport, they will be swabbed and will undergo facility-based quarantine until the result of the swab test comes out.

They are “strongly encouraged” to have themselves vaccinated during their stay in Cebu with single shot Janssen vaccine which will be made available by the Department of Health (DOH).

Upon staying in Cebu, foreign nationals who will show symptoms of COVID-19 must inform hotel, resort or accommodation establishment they are staying and must subject themselves to RT-PCR test or Rapid Antigen test. If it turns out to be positive, DOH protocol for positive individual will be followed.

Opening the borders for the foreign tourist after two years is way of the government the tourism industry that has been affected by the pandemic.

In Cebu, the Capitol welcomes this development from the national authorities since the island is a well-known tourist destination for foreign guests and almost all of the towns in the province are dependent on tourism as economic driver. — JMD (FREEMAN)