No RT-PCR for boosted foreigners or insurance

[Snowy79]

 

MANILA – Fully-vaccinated Filipinos and foreigners who will enter the Philippines beginning May 30 are no longer required to present a negative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test upon arrival in the Philippines.

In an online press briefing, acting Deputy Presidential Spokesperson and Communications Undersecretary Michel Kristian Ablan said the new protocol was contained in the resolution approved by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) on Thursday.

Under IATF-EID Resolution 168, inbound passengers need not present an RT-PCR test, on conditions that they are 18 years old and above, and have at least one booster shot against the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

Also exempted from the pre-departure RT-PCR requirement are those aged 12 to 17 who have received two Covid-19 vaccine shots, as well as those aged below 12 who are accompanied by fully vaccinated or boosted parents or guardians.

Travel insurance requirement lifted

The IATF-EID, according to its latest resolution, has also lifted the travel insurance requirement for incoming passengers.

The updated Covid-19 protocols included under IATF-EID Resolution 168 allows travelers to enter the Philippines sans the need to secure travel insurance.

Originally, they can only enter the country, if they obtain travel insurance for Covid-19 treatment costs from reputable insurance providers, with a minimum coverage of USD35,000 for the duration of their stay in the country.

Fully-vaccinated travelers, according to the new IATF-EID resolution, are still mandated to present acceptable proof of vaccination and passports valid for a period of at least six months at the time of their arrival.

For temporary visitors, they must have valid tickets for their return journey to the port of origin or next port of destination not later than 30 days from date of arrival.

The acceptable proofs of Covid-19 vaccination include the World Health Organization International Certificate of Vaccination and Prophylaxis, VaxCertPH, national or state digital certificate of foreign country accepting VaxCertPH, and other proof of vaccination permitted by the IATF-EID.

Unvaccinated passengers

Travelers who are unvaccinated or partially unvaccinated or have unverified vaccination status must present a negative RT-PCR test taken within 48 hours or a negative laboratory-based rapid antigen negative test result administered and certified by a healthcare professional taken within 24 hours prior to the date and time of departure from the country of origin or first port of embarkation in a continuous travel to the Philippines.

They are also required to undergo facility-based quarantine until the release of their negative RT-PCR test taken on the fifth day from the date of their arrival in the Philippines. They must also undergo home quarantine until their 14th day in the country.

The relaxed protocol likewise applies to Filipinos traveling to the Philippines, the Department of Tourism (DOT) said Friday.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1175295

Edited May 27, 2022 by Snowy79

[Snowy79]

I'll add unvaccinated allowed also but need to quarantine.

[Youngster]

This is going to be my second trip back this month, and I sure could have done without another PCR test. Oh well, I’m already tested and boosted and ready to come back home. Great news though.  Now if only airfare will come down by…let’s say 75%, that should open the floodgate. 

[Dave Hounddriver]

This is good news.  Its about time too!  Thanks for posting.

[JamesBond]

But the PCR requirement was previously changed to an antigen within 24 hours of departure or an RT-PCR test taken 48 hours prior to departure. I'd take a look at the IATF resolution myself now, except the site seems to be down.

[Jollygoodfellow]

12 minutes ago, JamesBond said:

But the PCR requirement was previously changed to an antigen within 24 hours of departure or an RT-PCR test taken 48 hours prior to departure. I'd take a look at the IATF resolution myself now, except the site seems to be down.

What's the big deal. The info came from a goverment site taken from IATF rules. 

[Clermont]

11 hours ago, Snowy79 said:

Fully-vaccinated Filipinos and foreigners who will enter the Philippines beginning May 30 are no longer required to present a negative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test upon arrival in the Philippines.

Thanks Snowy, I'll be back over early next month, all I need now is for them to stuff up the Balikbayan pathway in. 

[sanagimo]

Wow thats great thanks for the info

[baronapart]

1 hour ago, Clermont said:

Thanks Snowy, I'll be back over early next month, all I need now is for them to stuff up the Balikbayan pathway in. 

Translation for a Yank please))

[Clermont]

Very unique that word, I’ve never heard a translation for the word Yank, a Yank is a yank, I’ve heard of a lot of derogatory explanations of the word but JFG would put me in the naughty corner if I wrote them, so we’re back to a plain old Yank, I hope that helped.