by Alyssa Marie Luciano
Malacañang on Wednesday (April 6), announced that the Philippines will start recognizing COVID-19 vaccination certificates of four more countries.
Acting Presidential Spokesperson and Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said vaccine certificates of Bangladesh, Mexico, Pakistan, and Slovak Republic, are now approved in the country for the purposes of arrival quarantine protocol and their interzonal and intrazonal movements.
“This is in addition to other countries/territories/jurisdictions whose proof of vaccination the IATF [Inter-Agency Task Force] has already approved for recognition in the Philippines, and without prejudice to such other proofs of vaccination approved by the IATF for all inbound travelers,” Andanar added.
On February 18, the IATF for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) prompted the recognition of vaccination certificates of 15 more countries including Argentina, Azerbaijan, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Chile, Denmark, Ecuador, Indonesia, Myanmar, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Portugal, Spain, Syria, and the Chinese semi-autonomous region of Macau.
Meanwhile, according to the Resolution 165 of the IATF-EID, other accepted proof of COVID-19 vaccination include the World Health Organization International Certificate of Vaccination and Prophylaxis, VaxCertPH, national or state digital certificate of foreign country accepting VaxCertPH, and other proof of vaccination allowed by the IATF-EID.
Previously, the government already allowed foreign travelers in the country without an entry exemption document (EED) as long as they comply with the applicable visa requirements and immigration entry and departure formalities.
Foreign travelers must also have passports valid for at least six months from their time of arrival, valid tickets for their return journey from the port of origin to their next destination which should not be later than 30 days from their date of arrival.
Moreover, upon arriving in the country, foreign travelers must also obtain travel insurance for the COVID-19 treatment from reputable insurance providers, with a minimum coverage of $35,000 for their stay in the Philippines.
Those who fail to comply with the conditions set by the IATF-EID will have their admission in the country denied and will be subjected to appropriate exclusion proceedings where prior penalty and retribution will be given. -gb
