IATF removes mandatory Covid-19 testing for travelers from abroad

 

MANILA. In this September 6, 2021 photo, passengers wait for their ride as they arrive at Manila's International Airport, Philippines. (AP Photo)

MANILA. In this September 6, 2021 photo, passengers wait for their ride as they arrive at Manila's International Airport, Philippines. (AP Photo)

By: THIRD ANNE PERALTA-MALONZO, SunStar Manila

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.

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.

IATF allows rapid antigen test as entry requirement

MANILA. A foreign passenger wearing a protective mask as a precaution against the spread of the coronavirus pushes his cart as he arrives at Manila's International Airport in the Philippines on Thursday, February 10, 2022. (AP)

By: THIRD ANNE PERALTA-MALONZO, SunStar Philippines

ARRIVING international travelers can now present as a travel requirement a result of a rapid antigen test conducted by a healthcare professional, said acting presidential spokesperson Martin Andanar Wednesday, April 6, 2022.

He said the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on Emerging Infectious Diseases has approved it, and the test may be done in a healthcare facility, laboratory, clinic, pharmacy, or other similar establishments from the country of origin of the traveler 24 hours before departure.

Previously, the IATF only approved laboratory-based antigen test results from arriving foreign passengers.

On February 10, for the first time since the start of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic in 2020, the National Government allowed the entry of tourists from non-visa countries.

The acceptance of travelers from visa-required countries started on April 1.

The National Government also lifted the mandatory isolation protocols for arriving passengers.

Among the conditions are foreign travelers should be fully vaccinated, except for children, while they are also required to present a negative Covid-19 RT-PCR test result taken 48 hours prior to their trip, or a negative antigen result taken 24 hours before departure.

They are also only required to self-monitor within seven days upon their arrival and report to the local government unit of their destination if they manifest any symptom of Covid-19.

Andanar said the IATF also approved the acceptance and recognition of the national Covid-19 vaccination certificates of Bangladesh, Mexico, Panama and Slovak Republic, for purposes of arrival, quarantine protocols, as well as for inter zonal/intrazonal movement.

The IATF directed the Bureau of Quarantine, the Department of Transportation – One-Stop-Shop and the Bureau of Immigration to recognize only the proofs of vaccination thus approved by the IATF. (SunStar Philippines)

IATF releases updated arrival protocols for foreigners coming to PH

The Ninoy Aquino International Airport, the country’s main gateway. (Photo from PNA)

by Argyll Cyrus Geducos, Manila Bulletin

The government’s pandemic task force has updated the arrival protocols initially set for foreigners who want to enter the Philippines for business and tourism purposes starting February 10, 2022.

The Ninoy Aquino International Airport, the country’s main gateway. (Photo from PNA)

Based on Resolution No. 160-B of the Inter-agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, fully vaccinated foreign nationals may enter the Philippines without visas provided that they qualify as former Filipino citizens with Balikbayan privilege.

They are also allowed to enter the Philippines if they are citizens of any of the 157 countries entitled to a stay not exceeding 30 days. These are:

Andorra

Angola

Antigua and Barbuda

Argentina

Australia

Austria

Bahamas

Bahrain

Barbados

Belgium

Belize

Benin

Bhutan

Bolivia

Botswana

Brazil (up to 59 days)

Brunei Darussalam

Bulgaria

Burkina Faso

Burundi

Cambodia

Cameroon

Canada

Cape Verde

Central African Republic

Chad

Chile

Colombia

Comoros

Congo

Costa Rica

Cote d’Ivoire

Croatia

Cyprus

Czech Republic

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Denmark

Djibouti

Dominica

Dominican Republic

Ecuador

El Salvador

Equatorial Guinea

Eritrea

Estonia

Ethiopia

Fiji

Finland

France

Gabon

Gambia

Germany

Ghana

Greece

Grenada

Guatemala

Guinea

Guinea Bissau

Guyana

Haiti

Honduras

Hungary

Iceland

Indonesia

Ireland

Israel (up to 59 days)

Italy

Jamaica

Japan

Kazakhstan

Kenya

Kiribati

Kuwait

Kyrgyzstan

Lao People’s Democratic Republic

Latvia

Lesotho

Liberia

Liechtenstein

Lithuania

Luxembourg

Madagascar

Malawi

Malaysia

Maldives

Mali

Malta

Marshall Islands

Mauritania

Mauritius

Mexico

Micronesia

Monaco

Mongolia

Morocco

Mozambique

Myanmar

Namibia

Nepal

Netherlands

New Zealand

Nicaragua

Niger

Norway

Oman

Palau

Panama

Papua New Guinea

Paraguay

Peru

Poland

Portugal

Qatar

Republic of Korea

Romania

Russia

Rwanda

Saint Kitts and Nevis

Saint Lucia

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Samoa

San Marino

Sao Tome and Principe

Saudi Arabia

Senegal

Seychelles

Singapore

Slovak Republic

Slovenia

Solomon Islands

South Africa

Spain

Suriname

Swaziland

Sweden

Switzerland

Tajikistan

Thailand

Togo

Trinidad and Tobago

Tunisia

Turkey

Turkmenistan

Tuvalu

Uganda

United Arab Emirates

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

United Republic of Tanzania

United States of America

Uruguay

Uzbekistan

Vanuatu

Vatican

Venezuela

Vietnam

Zambia

Zimbabwe

Foreign travelers must be fully vaccinated except children below 12 years old.

They must carry any of the following proofs of vaccination:

World Health Organization (WHO) International Certificates of Vaccination and Prophylaxis

VaxCertPH

National/state digital certificate of the foreign gov’t which recognizes VaxCertPH

Other proofs of vaccination permitted by the IATF

The passenger must also have a passport valid for at least six months at the time of their arrival, and valid return tickets or tickets for the country of their next destination.

Prior to their travel, they are required to obtain travel insurance for COVID-19 treatment costs from reputable insurers, with a minimum coverage of US$35,000 for the duration of their stay in the Philippines.

Foreign visitors are deemed fully vaccinated if they received the second dose in a two-dose series or a single dose vaccine more than 14 days prior to their flight to the Philippines. Their vaccine must be included in the emergency use listing of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the local Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or issued a compassionate special permit by the Philippine FDA.

Visa-free foreign nationals who fail to fully comply with the conditions and requisites shall be denied admission into the country and shall be subject to the appropriate exclusion proceedings.

However, once allowed entry, they are no longer required to observe facility-based quarantine but must self-monitor for symptoms for seven days. They must report to the local government unit (LGU) of their destination should they manifest symptoms.

Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles has clarified that “self-monitor” does not mean “home quarantine”.

Meanwhile, foreign children below the age of 12 but are traveling with Filipino nationals shall follow the protocols of their travel companion.

A foreign child from ages 12 to 17 traveling with their Filipino parent shall follow the protocol based on their vaccination status. However, if the child is unvaccinated, one parent should accompany the child during their facility-based quarantine.

9(a) visa bearers

On the other hand, foreigners with 9(a) visas (a tourist visa for pleasure or business) will be allowed to enter the country if they are fully vaccinated, except children below the age of 12.

They must carry acceptable proof of vaccination and a negative RT-PCR test taken within 48 hours prior to their flight.

These passengers will not be required to undergo facility quarantine but must self-monitor for symptoms.

Foreign nationals who fail to comply with the conditions must undergo facility-based quarantine and undergo testing on the fifth day. They may be discharged upon the release of a negative result but must complete the rest of their 14-day quarantine at home.

IATF approves test-before-travel for Davao

 

RALPH LAWRENCE G. LLEMIT, Manila Bulletin

THE Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) approved the Davao City Government's request to impose a test-before-travel requirement to all passengers arriving at the Francisco Bangoy International Airport (Davao International Airport).

In a statement issued by the City Information Office on February 5, Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat bared the approval of the request made by Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio dated February 3.

According to the City Government, Duterte-Carpio wrote to Puyat on January 22, requesting the assistance of the DOT in negotiating with the IATF for the imposition of mandatory real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing for all travelers before they arrive at the DIA.

"We wish to inform you that the IATF has approved your request," Puyat said in the letter.

Puyat also said, "The DOT is one with the City of Davao in its efforts to curb the spread of the virus. We look forward to working with you as we pursue our goal of a slow but sure recovery of the tourism industry."

The request of Davao City for guidelines on the test-before-travel requirement, without prejudice, for travel by land, sea, and air was approved during the 97th meeting of the IATF on January 28.

The City Government said the Department of the Interior and Local Government will also convene a small group and come up with a recommendation in a week's time following the approval from the IATF.

Meanwhile, the city suspended the free RT-PCR testing at the DIA on January 14 and will only resume once the Los Amigos Covid-19 Laboratory goes into full operation.

Arriving passengers with negative RT-PCR tests are prioritized in exiting the DIA after checking their health declaration forms (HDFs).

Non-Davao City flight passengers may still exit the airport even without the RT-PCR negative test as long as their LGUs will fetch them and they can present other needed documents. Neighboring local government units (LGUs) are urged to pick up their locally stranded individuals (LSIs) at the DIA.

For Davao City residents without negative RT-PCR test results to show, HDFs and other necessary documents will be checked. They must follow the requirements and will be given their health monitoring forms since they need to check-in with their BHERTS (Barangay Health Emergency Response Team). The 14-day home quarantine is mandatory. (With CIO)