The government has released a list of more than 50 countries and territories identified as “green” or with low coronavirus risk amid efforts to screen the entry of vaccinated travelers into the Philippines.
The list of the “green” places was released after the government’s pandemic task force approved shorter quarantine protocol for travelers vaccinated abroad who stayed in these areas.
Among the places with low COVID-19 risk are Australia, Brunei, China, Israel, Hong Kong, Laos, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea and Vietnam.
“The Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on June 30, 2021, Wednesday, listed the following countries/jurisdictions as 'Green' countries and jurisdictions,” Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said in a statement.
The green countries/jurisdictions are the following:
1. Albania
2. American Samoa
3. Anguilla
4. Antigua and Barbuda
5. Australia
6. Benin
7. Belize
8. The British Virgin Islands
9. Brunei
10. Burkina Faso
11. Burundi
12. Cayman Islands
13. Chad
14. China
15. Cote d’ Ivoire (Ivory Coast)
16. Eswatini
17. Falkland Islands
18. French Polynesia
19. Gambia
20. Ghana
21. Greenland
22. Grenada
23. Hong Kong
24. Iceland
25. Isle of Man
26. Israel
27. Laos
28. Liberia
29. Malawi
30. Malta
31. Marshall Islands
32. Mauritius
33. Micronesia
34. Montserrat
35. Morocco
36. Mozambique
37. New Caledonia
38. New Zealand
39. Niger
40. Nigeria
41. Northern Mariana Islands
42. Palau
43. Rwanda
44. Saba
45. Saint Barthelemy
46. Saint Kitts and Nevis
47. Saint Pierre and Miquelon
48. Sierra Leone
49. Senegal
50. Singapore
51. Sint Eustatius
52. South Korea
53. Taiwan
54. Togo
55. Turks and Caicos Islands
56. Vietnam
57. Zimbabwe
The task force earlier issued Resolution No.123-C on the guidelines for the inbound international travel of persons vaccinated in the Philippines as well as those inoculated abroad who stayed in these "green" places effective July 1.
The "green" countries/jurisdictions are those classified by the Department of Health as “low risk” countries/jurisdictions based on disease incidence rate, according to the IATF.
Under the rules, the passengers vaccinated abroad must undergo a seven-day quarantine at a facility upon arrival in the Philippines, instead of the standard 10-day facility-based quarantine and four days in their place of destination.
They must also take a polymerase chain reaction test on the fifth day of facility-based quarantine. The fifth-day COVID testing requirement shall be subject to review after 30 days from implementation.
The passenger must still complete the seven-day quarantine at a facility even if the person tests negative. If found positive, the passenger must follow the prescribed isolation protocols.
The government task force likewise required incoming vaccinated passengers to present documents such as vaccine certificates to prove vaccination status.
Green lanes for vaccinated OFWs
Roque said the task force also ruled that the option of presenting Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) validations as proof of vaccination status is exclusive to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
The POLOs are expected to start accepting applications for validation starting July 5, 2021.
“OFWs who can present International Certificates of Vaccination may already avail themselves of the green lanes beginning July 1, 2021, provided they comply with other requirements,” Roque said.
The IATF earlier said returning passengers vaccinated in the Philippines must present their vaccination card, to be verified prior to their departure by a certification of vaccination record portal of the Department of Information and Communications Technology or the city health officer of the local government that issued the full vaccination.
Travelers vaccinated outside the Philippines are required to present official documentation of full vaccination validated through POLO or present their international certificate of vaccination.