FILE PHOTO
By THIRD ANNE PERALTA-MALONZO
THE National Government will implement uniform entry, testing and quarantine protocols for all international arriving Filipinos and foreign nationals regardless of their country of origin, acting presidential spokesperson Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said Friday, January 28, 2022.
Nograles said starting February 1, Tuesday, the government will no longer implement the Red, Yellow and Green country classification, the guidance being used to identify the entry, testing and quarantine protocols of arriving international travelers.
He said the entry, testing and quarantine protocols of arriving international travelers will already depend on their vaccination status.
For fully vaccinated international arriving passengers, they will be required to present a negative RT-PCR test taken within 48 hours prior to departure from the country of origin.
Upon arrival in the Philippines, they will no longer be required to observe mandatory facility-based quarantine and should instead self-monitor for any signs or symptoms within seven days with the date of arrival as their first day.
Fully vaccinated arriving travelers are required to coordinate with their respective local government units upon the manifestation of symptoms.
They should also present their proof of vaccination recognized by the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF), such as the World Health Organization Certificates of Vaccination and Prophylaxis, VaxCertPH and national digital certificate of foreign governments that also accept the country’s VaxCertPH.
For unvaccinated, partially vaccinated or individuals whose vaccination status cannot be verified, they will be required to present a negative RT-PCR test taken within 48 hours prior to departure from the country of origin and undergo a facility-based quarantine until the release of a negative RT-PCR test taken on the fifth day upon arrival.
“Afterwhich, they shall be required to undergo home quarantine until their 14th day,” said Nograles.
“The local government units of destination and their respective Baranagay Health Emergency Response Teams are tasked to monitor those arriving passengers undergoing home quarantine,” he added.
Nograles said children 12 years old and below who cannot be vaccinated should follow the quarantine protocol of their adult companion.
Those who are currently undergoing quarantine may avail themselves of these protocols by February 1. (SunStar Philippines)
