The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) has tweaked the rules for the so-called "green lanes" for passengers arriving from abroad effective Oct. 14, 2021.
Harry Roque, presidential spokesperson and concurrent IATF spokesperson, said in a statement late afternoon Wednesday, Oct. 13, that fully vaccinated foreign nationals must produce a negative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test result within 72 hours prior to the departure from the country of origin.
"Upon arrival, no facility-based quarantine will be required but the passenger is enjoined to self-monitor for any symptoms until the 14th day," he said.
"On the other hand, for fully vaccinated Filipinos, they can choose facility-based quarantine until the release of a negative RT-PCR test taken in the quarantine facility upon arrival, or no facility-based quarantine after getting a negative RT-PCR test within 72 hours prior to departure from the country of origin but the the passenger is enjoined to self-monitor for any symptoms until the 14th day," Roque said.
For the unvaccinated, partially vaccinated, or individuals whose vaccination status cannot be independently verified, and those vaccinated but failed to comply with the test-before-travel requirements, they shall undergo a facility-based quarantine until the release of a negative RT-PCR test taken on the fifth day.
"In the case of foreign nationals, they shall be required to secure hotel reservations for at least six days," the statement read.
Meanwhile, unvaccinated or partially vaccinated minor children traveling with their fully vaccinated parent/s or guardians shall be required to observe the quarantine protocols corresponding to their vaccination status.
A parent/guardian shall accompany the child in the quarantine facility for the full term of the latter’s facility-based quarantine period.
To validate their vaccination status, overseas Filipino workers (OFW) and their spouse, parent/s, and/or children traveling in the Philippines or abroad, non-OFWs vaccinated in the country and abroad, and foreigners vaccinated in the Philippines can present either their VaxCertPH digital certificate, Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ)/ World Health Organization (WHO)-issued International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICV), or the national digital certificate of the foreign government where they were vaccinated.
"In the case of foreigners vaccinated abroad, they can present WHO-issued ICV, or the national digital certificate of the foreign government which has accepted VaxCertPH under a reciprocal agreement," Roque said.
The rules are enforced via IATF Resolution No.143 series of 2021, dated Oct. 13, 2021.