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.
