CEBU, Philippines — The Philippine government has set new protocols for international arriving travelers following the suspension of the COVID-19 risk classifications for countries and territories beginning February 1, 2022.
Fully-vaccinated travelers are now allowed to go on business and leisure travels in the country starting on the 10th of February. Under the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases(IATF-MEID) Resolution 159, the classification of countries/territories/jurisdictions as “Green,” “Yellow,” and “Red” shall be temporarily suspended beginning next month.
“It doesn’t make sense anymore dahil yun pong transmission dito sa ating bansa ay napaka-taas na…Baka mas mataas pa sa mga pinagbabawalan natin na mga travelers coming from other countries,” said Department of Health’s spokesperson Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire.
With this, regardless of their country of origin, international arriving Filipinos and foreign nationals who are fully-vaccinated against COVID-19 only have to present their negative Reverse Transcription - Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) test result taken within forty-eight hours (48hrs) prior to departure from the country of origin.
Upon arrival, they shall no longer be required to observe mandatory facility-based quarantine but shall self-monitor for any signs or symptoms for (7) days with the first day being the date of arrival.
They are also required to report to the local government unit of destination upon the manifestation of symptoms if any.
International arriving passengers must have the following proof of vaccination against COVID-19 recognized under existing IATF regulations. Vergeire also explained that the easing of protocols was based on studies.
“Ito po ay base sa pag-aaral ng ating Inter-Agency Task Force for COVID-19 variants. Unang-una po, ang phylogenetic sequencing na ginawa ng Philippine Genome Center na yung pong returning overseas Filipinos who had been detected with this Omicron variant, wala pong forward transmission…ibig sabihin, hindi po nanggaling sa karamihan ng ating Returning Overseas Filipinos ang mga pagka community transmission sa ating kumunidad. Nakikita na po na mababa po ang kaso ng nagpopositibo ng ating mga ROF than the community,” she added.
The unvaccinated, partially vaccinated, or individuals whose vaccination status cannot be independently validated, on the other hand, will have to present a negative RT-PCR test taken within forty-eight hours (48hrs) prior to departure from the country of origin and will be required to undergo facility-based quarantine until the release of their negative RT-PCR test taken on the fifth (5th) day.
After the facility quarantine, they are to undergo home quarantine until their fourteenth (14th) day, with the date of arrival being the first day. The local government units of destination and their respective Barangay Health Emergency Response Teams are tasked to monitor those arriving passengers undergoing home quarantine.
Children below twelve (12) years of age who cannot be vaccinated shall follow the quarantine protocols of the parent/s or the accompanying adult/guardian traveling with them.
Those who are currently undergoing quarantine until February 2022 may avail of the aforementioned testing and quarantine protocols.
Beginning February 10, 2022, fully vaccinated nationals of non-visa-required countries under Executive Order No. 408 (s.1960), as amended, shall also be allowed to enter the Philippines.
These travelers have to be holders of passports valid for at least six (6) months at the time of arrival, and with a return or outbound tickets to their country of origin or next country of destination along with proof of vaccination.
Children below eighteen (18) years of age are exempted from the requirement of full vaccination and providing proof of vaccination status prior to boarding and will be observing the existing testing and quarantine protocols in place for fully vaccinated international arriving passengers.
The said resolution also indicated that fully vaccinated nationals will not be included in the arrival quota set by the Department of Transportation and its One-Stop-Shop.
Travelers for business and tourism purposes will be allowed anew as long as they are under EO no. 408.
“Kung matatandaan po natin, dapat sinimulan na natin to, pero sinuspend natin pansamantala,” said acting Presidential spokesperson and Cabinet Secretary Karlo Alexei Nograles.
Nograles reminded everyone that as per resolution 157, beginning February 16, 2022 only fully-vaccinated foreign nationals will be allowed to enter the Philippines.
“Ang mga foreign nationals ay hindi papasukin sa bansa kung hindi sila fully-vaccinated,” said Nograles during a virtual presser yesterday. — FPL (FREEMAN)