MALACAÑANG yesterday released a memorandum approving the easing of travel restrictions for fully vaccinated Filipinos and foreign travelers bound for the Philippines, a week after it approved the optional use of face masks in indoor settings, except in medical facilities and public transportation.
Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, in issuing the memorandum on October 28, also directed the Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ) to coordinate with the Department of Health (DOH) to identify other acceptable proofs of vaccination “in order to avoid confusion and inconvenience on the part of the inbound travelers.”
Bersamin also ordered the conduct of an information dissemination on the new travel policy to avoid misunderstandings.
The memorandum, which was made public only yesterday, approved the October 4 recommendation of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) under Resolution No. 2 to do away with the pre-testing requirement for fully vaccinated travelers and limiting it to those who are still unvaccinated.
“In the interest of public safety, in pursuit of the resumption of travels to the Philippines and taking into account Section 3, Chapter 1, title XIII, Book IV of Executive Order No. 292 or the ‘Administrative Code of 1987,’ please be informed of the approval of IATF Resolution No. 2, subject to strict observance of the health protocols and compliance with applicable laws, ruled and regulations,” the memorandum read.
Under IATF Resolution No. 2, pre-departure testing for fully vaccinated inbound travelers, whether Filipinos or foreign nationals, shall no longer be required.
Fully vaccinated individuals are those who already received the second dose in a two-dose series or a single dose COVID-19 vaccine more than fourteen (14) days prior to the date and time of departure from the country of origin or port of embarkation.
The fully vaccinated are now only required to present their proof of vaccination, such as the World Health Organization International Certificate of Vaccination and Prophylaxis, VaxCertPH, national or state manual/digital vaccination certificate of the country/foreign government, and other proof of vaccination.
For unvaccinated or partially vaccinated individuals or travelers whose vaccination status cannot be independently validated who are aged 15 or older, regardless if they are Filipinos or foreigners, they are required to submit a negative antigen result from a test administered and certified by a healthcare professional in a healthcare facility, laboratory, clinic, pharmacy, or other similar establishment taken within twenty-four (24) hours, prior to the date and time of departure from the country of origin or port of embarkation.
Filipinos and foreign nationals aged 15 and older who fail to present a negative pre-departure antigen testing result shall be required to undergo a laboratory-based rapid antigen negative test administered and certified by a healthcare professional in a healthcare facility, laboratory, clinic, pharmacy, or other similar establishment taken upon arrival at Philippine airports.
Minors — whether accompanied or unaccompanied — who are younger than 15 and are not vaccinated for any reason whatsoever shall follow the quarantine protocols of their parents or accompanying adult or guardian who are traveling with them.
Inbound travelers, whether Filipino or foreign national, who test positive for COVID-19 through rapid antigen test shall be subjected to the prevailing quarantine and isolation protocols.
President Marcos, during the Cabinet meeting last week, approved the easing of the travel requirements. An executive order was supposed to be issued formalizing the approval.
Aside from the travel controls, the national government has also removed the One Health Pass (OHP) and shifted to the use of the more traveler-friendly e-Arrival cards.
The e-Arrival card is a joint undertaking of the DOH, BOQ, and the Bureau of Immigration in coordination with the Department of Tourism and the Department of Information, Communication and Technology (DICT). It aims to simplify the entry procedures and registration for travelers.
MASKING IN SCHOOLS
The Office of the Press Secretary (OPS) said the wearing of face masks in schools by students is voluntary, echoing the announcement of the Department of Education (DepEd) that it will be optional following the government policy on the voluntary wearing of face masks indoors.
On Tuesday, the DepEd announced that it will already be the choice of students if they want to wear face masks on campus and in classrooms.
The OPS took to Facebook to make the announcement after public school students returned to full face-to-face classes on Wednesday.
The agency reminded the public that the wearing of face masks is only required in healthcare facilities, medical transport vehicles, and public transportations and optional in both indoors and outdoors facilities under Executive Order No. 7.
“Hindi na sapilitan ang pagsusuot ng face mask para sa mga mag-aaral, ayon sa DepEd Philippines nitong Martes, Nobyembre 1. Ito ay alinsunod sa inilabas na Executive Order (EO) No. 7 kung saan nakasaad na boluntaryo na lang ang paggamit ng face mask sa loob o labas ng mga establisyemento, maliban na lang sa healthcare facilities, medical transport vehicles, at mga pampublikong sasakyan (The wearing of face mask for students is not mandatory as stated by DepEd Philippines last Tuesday, November 1. This is in accordance with Executive Order (EO) No. 7 that states that the wearing of face mask inside or outside establishments is now voluntary, unless in healthcare facilities, medical transport vehicles, or public transportation),” the OPS said.
The DOH and the Alliance of Concerned Teachers has called for the continued wearing of face mask of students in school as their last line of defense against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
In a brief statement, the DOH defended the DepEd decision to allow students not to wear face masks when attending face-to-face classes, saying the department is well within its mandate to issue such a policy.
“The DOH defers policy decisions to the DepEd with regards to the well-being and safety of its students,” said the DOH.
Add to this, it said, is that there is enough legal basis for DepEd to come out with such a protocol.
“The optional use of facemasks in schools is aligned with the Office of the President’s Executive Order Nos. 3 and 7, which allows the optional use of face masks both indoors and outdoors for certain health settings,” it said.
Nevertheless, the health department reminded everyone anew that adequate protection must remain in place to prevent coronavirus disease transmission in schools.
This, it said, must come after conducting a thorough assessment of the risks of not wearing masks.
“The DOH would like to reiterate that proper assessment of when to wear or not to wear masks, and the right implementation and practice of ensuring our layers of protection are keys to help in the prevention of virus transmission,” said the DOH.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Federation of Professional Associations (PFPA) urged the public to continuously wear face masks wherever they go.
In a televised public briefing, PFPA vice president Dr. Benito Atienza said medical professionals continue to bat for the consistent use of face masks to prevent another wave of COVID-19 cases.
“The medical community, our healthcare professionals, still advise everybody to wear face masks,” said Atienza, adding: “It is still better to be more careful,” he added.
Atienza said this is because those who came from different parts of the country to observe Undas may unknowingly carry COVID.
“That is what concerns us, those that came from the provinces may carry the virus back to Metro Manila and go back to work. It could lead to an increase in cases,” he said. — With Gerard Naval
