Senator Christopher “Bong” Go on Sunday urged the government to make sure that overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), including seafarers, are vaccinated against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Go said that as the Philippines expects more vaccines to arrive in the coming months, he supports the appeal of seafarers and other OFWs to consider the requirements needed for them to resume their work abroad. Among these is the need to be inoculated with vaccines that are acceptable in their country of destination.

The government should also prepare the necessary documents to help them prove that they have been vaccinated, the senator said.

“Umapela po tayo na maisama sa A4 priority group ang seafarers at OFWs na kailangan na umalis papunta sa ibang bansa para makapagpatuloy ng trabaho. Nais nating mabakunahan na ang sektor na ito para po maibalik na ang kabuhayan nila at makatulong sa ekonomiya (We appealed that the OFWs and seafarers be included in the A4 priority group since they need to leave the country to continue their work abroad. We need to vaccinate this sector so they can resume their livelihood and help in the economy),” Go said in a statement.

Go, who is chair of the Senate Committee on Health, also stressed the need to ensure that overseas-bound workers are able to resume their work abroad because they had been appropriately inoculated with vaccines that are compliant with the regulations of their countries of destination.

“Bukod sa pagsama sa kanila sa prayoridad, dapat masiguro rin na ‘yung bakuna na ituturok sa kanila ay acceptable sa bansang patutunguhan nila at may maipapakita silang pruweba,(Aside from including them in the priority list, it is necessary to ensure that the jabs they received are acceptable in the country they will go to and that they can show proof of their vaccination),” he added.

“(Through vaccination) not only should their lives be protected, but their livelihoods as well,” he also pointed out.

Go said seafarers and other OFWs can be prioritized once COVID-19 doses from Western countries, like Pfizer and Moderna, arrive in the Philippines.

He noted there are countries where some Filipino seafarers are bound to be deployed prefer certain vaccines. Thus, he said, it is imperative that the government is ready to provide “vaccine passports” or other acceptable proof of vaccination to these workers.

“Sa ngayon, may ibinibigay na vaccination cards para doon sa mga nabakunahan na. Kailangan lang siguraduhin na acceptable ito na pruweba kahit saan man sila magpunta. Usap-usapan ngayon ang pagkakaroon ng vaccine passports. Dapat mapaghandaan ito ng mabuti (For now they are giving out vaccination cards for those who have been inoculated. They just have to make sure that these are acceptable as proof and can be used anywhere they go. They are now discussing the creation of vaccine passports. This needs thorough preparation),” the senator stressed.

Under Section 12 of Republic Act 11525, or an Act Establishing the COVID-19 Vaccination Program, the Department of Health (DOH) is tasked to issue a vaccine card to all persons vaccinated.

Under the law, the DOH may delegate the processing and issuance of vaccine cards to local government units and private entities, subject to guidelines to be promulgated by the agency to expedite the process.

Nevertheless, he said those who have been inoculated should still abide by health protocols.

Go said that unless countries are able to achieve herd immunity, the traveling public is still not safe from the COVID-19.