TOURISM officials from the government and private sector issued messages on caution as the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) decided to allow fully vaccinated persons to travel interzonally. An individual is considered fully vaccinated two weeks after receiving either the second dose of a two-dose vaccine, or a dose of a single-dose vaccine.
Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo Puyat said local government units (LGUs) will still have the last say whether or not they will accept vaccinated tourists in their leisure destinations without a negative RT-PCR test result.
In its Resolution 124-B, the IATF on July 2 said: “For interzonal travel allowed under the pertinent resolutions of the IATF and provisions of the Omnibus Guidelines on the Implementation of Community Quarantine in the Philippines, as amended, the presentation of a Covid-19 domestic vaccination card duly issued by a legitimate vaccinating establishment, or certificate of quarantine completion showing the holder’s vaccination status as may be issued by the Bureau of Quarantine, whichever is applicable, shall be sufficient alternatives to any testing requirement (before travel or upon arrival) which the [LGU] of destination may require. Provided, that the traveler shall undergo health and exposure screening upon arrival in the [LGU] of destination. Provided further, that this shall likewise apply to fully vaccinated senior citizens.”
‘Present authentic documents’
In a news statement on Monday, Romulo Puyat said, “The decision to accept vaccination cards as an alternative requirement for Covid-19 test is, however, within discretion of the LGU, subject to their own protocols and requirements.”
Tourism Congress of the Philippines Jose C. Clemente III told the BusinessMirror the new resolution of the IATF has again caused confusion among tour operators and travel associations.
“While we welcome any initiatives to make traveling around the country more convenient for our tourists, there is still need to exercise extreme caution as the virus is still with us. Moreover, only a small percentage of our population has been vaccinated so far and medical experts believe fully vaccinated persons can still act as carriers.”
He urged travelers to “please present genuine vaccine cards. At the same time, we also urge LGUs to strictly implement health and safety protocols to avoid surges.
We cannot afford to have a situation wherein we open and close destinations. That will not help the tourism industry at all.”
According to the US Centers for Disease Control, “The risks of SARS-CoV-2 infection in fully vaccinated people cannot be completely eliminated where community transmission of the virus is widespread. Vaccinated people could potentially still become infected and spread the virus to others.” (https://bit.ly/3AtRsrG)
Wear a mask, wash your hands
Interior Undersecretary Epimaco V. Densing III was firm though on the removal of the testing before travel requirement as expressed in the IATF resolution. “Of course the health experts made their inputs. That policy was fully discussed during the IATF meeting.”
As such, he stressed, “If a person is fully vaccinated, no more test before travel. What I’m confirming is upon arrival. Because some [LGUs] still require antigen tests.”
On CDC’s opinion that vaccinated individuals can still be Covid carriers, Densing said, ‘What is important is the practice of minimum public health standards,” such as wearing of masks, physical distancing, and washing of hands.
In her news statement, Romulo Puyat said while the easing of travel restrictions would encourage individuals who have successfully completed their Covid-19 vaccination to finally go on holidays, she also warned against producing or presenting fake vaccination cards or RT-PCR results in opened tourism destinations.
She urged LGUs “to ensure that only tourists with legitimate vaccination cards and BoQ certifications, and legitimate RT-PCR results [if the LGU requires such test] be allowed to enter the country’s reopened destinations. By practicing responsible tourism and observing health and safety protocols, the DOT is confident that the industry will recover to the benefit of everyone, particularly the communities highly dependent on tourism.”