Government issues yellow card for fully vaccinated OFWs

MANILA, Philippines — The government is issuing yellow cards for departing overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who have been fully vaccinated, according to the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA).

The POEA advised fully vaccinated OFWs to secure the International Certificate of Vaccination (ICV) also known as a “yellow card” when required by the host country.

“Outbound travelers who have been fully vaccinated in the Philippines may apply for an ICV or ‘yellow card’ with the Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ) if such is required in the country of destination,” POEA said in an advisory.

POEA said the guidelines issued by the National COVID-19 Vaccination Operation Center apply to outbound travelers from the Philippines.

According to POEA, the yellow card will be issued to OFWs until the Certificate of Vaccination Record Portal becomes fully operational.

POEA said OFWs may register for an appointment with BOQ at https://boq.pisopay.com.ph/.

Applicants for ICV must be able to pay the P300 fee through electronic means when making an appointment through the BOQ Medical Services OBS platform.

OFWs have already been included in the priority list of the government’s immunization program.

Meanwhile, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) will repatriate this month 7,060 overseas Filipinos affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The DFA, through the Philippine embassy in Abu Dhabi and the Philippine consulate general in Dubai, mounted the first repatriation flight from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for the month of August by bringing home 382 repatriates, including seven pregnant women, onboard a DFA-chartered Cebu Pacific flight on Aug. 6.

Upon arrival, they were assisted by representatives from the city government of Davao, DFA regional consular office in Davao, Department of Health, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, Philippine Coast Guard and other members of the Davao One Stop Shop team, and were provided by the DFA with $200 as reintegration assistance.

In compliance with health and safety protocols, all passengers underwent RT-PCR COVID-19 tests within 48 hours prior to their departure from the UAE, and were allowed to board only if tests yielded negative results.

The repatriates will undergo stringent quarantine in facilities and be tested again before the end of their quarantine.

This is the eighth DFA-chartered repatriation flight from the UAE since June 2021, bringing the total number of Filipinos repatriated from the UAE since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic to 4,106.

Five more DFA-chartered repatriation flights are scheduled this month for Filipinos in the UAE who wish to return to the Philippines. – Pia Lee-Brago