Department of Tourism Secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat announced on February 4, 2022 issued a reminder to foreign tourists coming to the Philippines in the next days to prepare all requirements to ensure a seamless travel experience.
Puyat made the statement, following the issuance of Inter-agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases’ (IATF-EID) Resolution No. 160-B, which details the new entry, testing and quarantine protocols for foreign nationals coming from 157 visa-free countries arriving from abroad, effective February 10, 2022.
“The new guidelines issued by the IATF are an indication that, while the country has opened its borders to fully vaccinated business and leisure visitors, it is doing so with utmost care and with full regard for the health and safety of both visitors and the general public.”, Puyat said.
Based on the IATF –EID Resolution 160-B, all arriving visitors must be able to present the following:
– Acceptable proof of vaccination
– Negative RT-PCR Test Taken within forty–eight hours (48 hours) before the date and time of departure from the country of origin / first port of embarkation in a continuous travel to the Philippines, excluding lay-overs for their return journey
– Valid tickets for their return journey to the port of origin or next port of destination not later than thirty (30) days from date of arrival in the Philippines
– Passports valid for a period of at least six (6) months at the time of their arrival to the Philipiines
– Travel insurance for COVID-19 treatment costs from reputed insurers, with a minimum coverage of USD 35,000 for the duration of their stay in the Philippines
The Tourism chief reiterated that only fully vaccinated foreign visitors will be allowed entry to the country. Children below 12 years old will be exempted if they are traveling with fully vaccinated foreign parents.
In the case of unvaccinated foreign children below 12 years old that are travelling with their Filipino parent/s, they shall be allowed entry and shall be required to follow the entry, testing, and quarantine protocols that apply to their Filipino parent/s. Meanwhile, those between 12-17 years old must follow the protocols based on their vaccination status, and shall be accompanied by their parents during their facility-based quarantine.
Based on the resolution, an individual is deemed fully vaccinated if he or she received the second dose in a two-dose series or a single dose vaccine more than 14 days before the date and time of departure from the point of origin.
While foreign visitors will not be required to undergo facility-based quarantine, Puyat reminded arriving travelers that they should continue self-monitoring and report to the local government unit of their destination should they exhibit any of the symptoms of the virus.
“The opening of our borders to eligible foreign visitors and the rebound of the tourism industry can only mean the restoration of the livelihood of millions of Filipinos working in tourism-related establishments and businesses who have been displaced by the pandemic. It will contribute greatly to the eventual revival of the Philippine economy”, Puyat added.
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For the full guidelines, please see IATF-EID Resolution 160 B at https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/downloads/2022/02feb/20220203-RESO-160B-RRD.pdf.
