By Pearl Gumapos
Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ) Director Dr. Roberto Salvador Jr. on Saturday (Aug. 14) said that Filipinos planning to travel abroad may acquire their Yellow Card from the agency.
Since some countries do not take vaccination cards, Salvador said international Filipino travelers may present a Yellow Card instead.
“Ito po ‘yung tinatawag na International Certificate on Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP) o tawag nating Yellow Card. Ito po ay dokumento kung saan po nakatala ang mga bakuna na nakukuha ng travelers natin at pwede po nilang ipakita sa country of destination,” Salvador said in a Laging Handa public briefing.
The said Yellow Card is recognized by 196 World Health Organization (WHO) signatories.
Salvador said the first step to acquiring a Yellow Card is to first coordinate with the destined country to find out what the requirements are and if the Yellow Card is included in their requirements.
“Ito pong ICVP, pwedeng makakuha nito. Kailangan muna mag-book tayo doon sa online booking system ng Bureau of Quarantine. Once naka-book na tayo, in one to two hours po ay pwede nang makuha ang Yellow Card,” he said.
“Ang kailangan lang pong dalhin kapag nagpunta doon sa office natin ay ‘yung passport lang po saka ‘yung vaccination certificate,” he added.
Meanwhile, Salvador also said that the BOQ is not encouraging people to get the Yellow Card unless they have an international flight coming soon.
“Pinapa-alala lang po sana na ang kukuha ng Yellow Card natin ay ‘yung may malapit na po na flight na kailangan ng Yellow Card. Sa ngayon po, hindi natin ine-encourage na kumuha ng Yellow Card kung hindi po gagamitin sa labas ng bansa,” Salvador said. – bny
