Lacson urges gov't to fast-track standard protocols for vaccinated Filipinos
Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson on Sunday urged the government to expedite the release of standard quarantine protocols for vaccinated Filipinos to benefit not just returning overseas Filipino workers (OFW), but to fast track the country’s economic recovery as well.
“Please make it sooner, not later. Mind the economy for a change,” Lacson appealed to the National Task Force Against COVID-19 in his Twitter post, which earlier promised to draft one for Filipinos vaccinated here and abroad.
Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez, Jr. earlier said the national task force is working on the standard protocols where once an OFW is validated to have been vaccinated, he/she will have the same quarantine control with those vaccinated here in the Philippines, and that they will follow the same quarantine procedure.
Lacson earlier pushed for a vaccine passport system that would make traveling to the Philippines easier for vaccinated people, especially for returning OFWs and foreign investors.
He also urged the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) to modify the protocols that will address these problems and make sure these are in sync with those of other countries.
He also threw his support behind the Department of Health's (DOH) reported recommendation to scrap the COVID-19 testing requirement for inbound Filipinos who were fully vaccinated abroad, though this is still under study.
“Way to go! This is one sensible adjustment that our 'kababayans' abroad who miss their families here have been wanting to hear from DOH,” Lacson said.