THE Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on Emerging Infectious Diseases has further eased protocols for foreign and Filipino nationals traveling to the country from abroad.
Under the IATF Resolution 168, which effectively starts on May 30, 2022, fully vaccinated foreign and Filipino nationals will no longer be required to present a negative Covid-19 test result, either RT-PCR or antigen test, prior to departure from the country of origin.
The IATF defines “fully vaccinated” individuals as those 18 years old and above who have completed their primary series of Covid-19 vaccination and also had at least one shot of booster dose.
Foreign or Filipino adolescents aged 12 to 17 who are fully vaccinated, or those who have received their primary series of Covid-19 vaccination, as well as children 11 years old and below accompanied by fully vaccinated adults, regardless of the vaccination status, are also exempted from the testing before departure protocol.
Lay-overs
In case the traveler had lay-overs prior to arrival in the Philippines, he or she should have not left the airport premises or have been admitted in another country aside from the point of entry.
Traveling foreign nationals should have passports valid for a period of six months upon arrival in the Philippines.
“For temporary visitors, have valid tickets for their return journey to the port of origin or next port of destination corresponding to their permitted/allowable duration of stay under a valid visa or visa-free entry, as the case may be,” read the resolution.
This protocol, however, does not apply to foreign spouses and/or children of Filipino citizens and former Filipino citizens with balikbayan privilege who are traveling with them.
Fully vaccinated travelers will no longer have to undergo facility-based quarantine but were urged to self-monitor within seven days upon arrival in the country.
Unvaccinated
The IATF maintained, though, that the unvaccinated, partially vaccinated or those individuals whose vaccination could not be independently validated should present a negative Covid-19 RT-PCR result taken 48 hours prior to departure from the country of origin or a laboratory-based rapid-antigen negative test taken within 24 hours.
They will also be required to undergo facility-based quarantine until the release of a negative RT-PCR test taken on the fifth day upon arrival. After which, the arriving traveler must continue and complete his/her 14-day isolation at home or to the place of destination.
It should be monitored by the concerned local government units.
“Filipino nationals below 12 years of age who are not vaccinated for any reason whatsoever shall follow the quarantine protocols of their parent/s or an accompanying adult/guardian traveling with them,” the resolution read.
“Filipino nationals from 12 to 17 years of age shall follow the classification and procedures based on their vaccination status (i.e., vaccinated or unvaccinated). In case of such unvaccinated minor children, either foreign or Filipino parents should accompany such child or children during their facility-based quarantine,” it added.
Filipino nationals who have been tagged as recovered but continue to test positive in pre-departure test must present a positive RT-PCR test taken not earlier that 10 days but not later than 30 days prior to the date of departure from country of origin; positive RT-PCR result taken within 48 hours and a medical certificate issued by a licensed physician stating he or she already recovered.
Upon arrival in the country, for those fully vaccinated, they will no longer be required to be admitted in a facility-based quarantine but shall self-monitor until the seventh day.
The unvaccinated are required to undergo facility-based quarantine until the release of a negative RT-PCR test taken on the fifth day upon arrival to which the remaining of the 14 days of isolation days will be spent at home with monitoring of their respective local government units. (SunStar Philippines)