By Katrina Gracia Consebido
The Philippine government has loosened travel restrictions for foreign nationals entering the country who have received their COVID-19 vaccine boosters.
Under Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) Resolution No. 168, foreigners who have received their primary dose and a booster shot are exempted from the RT-PCR test requirement, as well as fully vaccinated 12 to 17 years old and those below 12 regardless of vaccination status.
In the May 28 Laging Handa briefing, Bureau of Immigration (BI) Spokesperson Dana Sandoval said the adjusted protocols are of big help for the country’s economy to encourage foreign nationals and other Filipinos to go back and visit the country.
“Kung mayroon po silang booster shots, so naka-first and second dose plus booster shot, exempted na po siya. So malaking bagay po ito to really encourage these foreign nationals, iyong mga kababayan din po natin na nakatira na po abroad na umuwi po at bumisita po dito sa Pilipinas,” she said.
Based on IATF guidelines, all foreign nationals must be fully vaccinated 14 days prior to their departure from the country of origin or port of embarkation.
Once they are admitted into the country, they are no longer required to observe facility-based quarantine but shall go under self-monitoring for seven days.
Meanwhile, Sandoval said the daily average of arrivals in the country has reached 15,000. This is still far from the 45,000 arrivals before the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We remain hopeful po kahit ganito pa lang po ‘yung figures – hindi pa po niya nararating ang pre-pandemic numbers – dahil nakikita po natin na talagang umangat naman iyong bilang ng mga turista,” she said. – ag
