Following concerns from experts and local government units (LGUs), the national pandemic task force has allowed LGUs to keep requiring a negative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test result for fully vaccinated travelers but said vaccination cards were still a sufficient alternative.
Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque made the statement after LGUs and health experts expressed concern about the decision of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases to allow the presentation of vaccination cards in lieu of testing requirements for the interzonal travel of fully vaccinated individuals.
He, however, warned those who may try to tamper with vaccination cards.
In a statement, Roque said for interzonal travel allowed under IATF guidelines, LGUs may accept a COVID-19 vaccination card duly issued by a legitimate vaccinating establishment or authority, whether local or foreign; or certificate of quarantine completion showing the holder’s vaccination status as may be issued by the Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ), whichever is applicable, as an alternative to RT-PCR testing requirement which they may require.
"This means that LGUs retain the discretion in requiring RT-PCR testing or accepting duly issued COVID-19 vaccination cards for allowed interzonal travel," he said Friday, July 9.
"These vaccination cards shall be sufficient proof of vaccination and any individual who shall present forged and/or falsified vaccination cards shall be dealt with in accordance with the law," he added.
Meanwhile, the intrazonal travel of fully vaccinated senior citizens within general community quarantine (GCQ) and modified GCQ (MGCQ) areas is still allowed.
Fully vaccinated seniors must present their COVID-19 vaccination card issued by a legitimate vaccination establishment/authority, whether local or foreign; or a BOQ-issued certificate showing their vaccination status.
On Thursday, July 8, Roque said the IATF decided to meet to address the concerns of LGUs and health experts regarding its recent decision on the interzonal travel of fully vaccinated individuals.
"This will again be discussed kasi sabi ko nga po, hindi naman pwede baliwalain ang mga posisyon lalong-lalo na ng mga lokal na pamahalaan dahil sila naman po nagpapatupad ng mga IATF resolutions (but as I said, the IATF cannot disregard the positions of LGUs because they are the ones implementing the resolutions)," he said.
Roque said the IATF made the decision to give those who have completed their inoculation some kind of an incentive.
"It was decided na (that) because you are fully vaccinated, as a way of incentivizing..." he said.
He added that the IATF came to the decision because fully vaccinated individuals have less probability of getting severe symptoms.