The Philippine tourism secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat has issued a reminder to all arriving travellers of the country’s entry requirements, as borders prepare to reopen to international leisure travellers on February 10.
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.
She emphasised that the new entry guidelines take careful consideration of the health and safety of both visitors and the general public.
All arriving visitors must present an acceptable proof of vaccination; a negative PCR test obtained 48 hours before 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 30 days from arrival in the Philippines; passports valid for a period of at least six months at the time of their arrival in the Philippines; and travel insurance with at least US$35,000 in coverage for Covid-19 treatment from reputed insurers.
The Philippines’ reopening applies only to fully vaccinated foreign travellers as well as unvaccinated children under the age of 12, provide they are traveling with fully vaccinated foreign parents.
Unvaccinated foreign children below 12 years old that are travelling with their Filipino parent/s will need to fulfil entry, testing, and quarantine protocols that apply to their Filipino parent/s.
Meanwhile, those between 12 to 17 years old must follow the protocols based on their vaccination status, and shall be accompanied by their parents during their facility-based quarantine.
While foreign visitors are exempted from facility-based quarantine, Puyat said travellers should continue to self-monitor and report to the local government unit of their destination should they exhibit any Covid symptoms.
“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.
