Approximately two years after implementing strict measures in its borders due to COVID-19, the Philippines now eased its border restrictions in favor of the fully vaccinated tourists and returning Filipinos.
The Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) announced on Friday, Jan. 28 that the risk classification system is suspended starting on Feb. 1, allowing travelers that meet the following criteria to enter the Philippines:
Fully-vaccinated Filipinos regardless of the country they came from (Feb. 1).
Foreigners from visa-free countries who are fully-vaccinated and a negative RT-PCR done within 48 hours before their departure abroad (Feb. 10).
Upon the entry of returning Filipinos and traveling foreigners, they can present the following as proof of vaccination recognized by IATF-EID:
Certificate of vaccination issued by the World Health Organization (WHO).
VaxCertPH of the Department of Health (DOH).
Digital certificates from a foreign government that accepted VaxCert under a reciprocal arrangement, unless otherwise permitted by the IATF-EID
To see the full list of foreign countries and details whose citizens are allowed to enter, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) provided it on their official website.
Meanwhile, in a statement released on the Department of Tourism’s (DOT) website on Friday, Jan. 28, Tourism secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat assured that no laxity will take place, especially with the uncertainty of the virus.
“We will closely monitor the situation and ensure that health and safety protocols are strictly implemented in all tourism establishments,” she added.
It is worth noting that on Nov. 28, 2021, Puyat said that they are confident with the country keeping up with its neighboring countries who made similar steps and procedures to reopen to foreign tourists.
Originally, the country was set to reopen its borders for green-listed countries in December 2021. However, it was pushed back due to the threat of the Omicron variant.
By Janine Reyes
Comments