Despite allowing certain international travelers to enter amid the rising number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases, the Philippines will remain closed to foreign tourists, the government's pandemic task force decided.
Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles made the announcement as the government came up with new country risk qualifications for the period of January 16 to 31, 2022.
In his press briefing on Friday, January 14, Nograles said that Filipinos from red list territories will now be allowed to enter the Philippines since the Omicron variant of COVID-19 was already in the country and in consideration of Filipinos who want to return home.
Fully vaccinated international travelers from green list countries and territories are also allowed to enter the country but this policy does not include foreign tourists.
In addition, starting February 16, foreign nationals will be required to present proof of full vaccination before being allowed to enter the country. The following, however, are exempted from this requirement:
- Children below 18 years old
- People who are medically unable to receive the vaccine, as certified by a competent public health authority in their country of origin
- Foreign diplomats and their qualified dependents or 9(e) visa holders
Red list protocols
Fully vaccinated Filipinos coming from red list countries are required to produce a negative RT-PCR test taken within 48 hours before their travel. They must also undergo facility-based quarantine and have another RT-PCR test on the seventh day.
Once a negative result is obtained, they may be released from the facility but will be required to complete the 14-day quarantine in their homes.
Unvaccinated, partially vaccinated, or those whose vaccination status cannot be verified must comply with the test-before-travel requirement and undergo facility-based quarantine upon their arrival to the country with another RT-PCR test taken on the seventh day.
Regardless of the result of the latest RT-PCR test, these travelers will only be discharged after completing the 10-day facility-based quarantine. They shall observe home quarantine until the 14th day.
The following are under the country's red list from January 16 to 31, 2022:
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Aruba
- Canada
- Curacao
- French Guiana
- Iceland
- Malta
- Mayotte
- Mozambique
- Puerto Rico
- Saudi Arabia
- Somalia
- Spain
- US Virgin Islands
Green list protocols
Meanwhile, fully vaccinated travelers from green list countries, both Filipinos and foreign, will be allowed entry to the Philippines following the presentation of a negative RT-PCR test taken within 48 hours prior to their flight to the country.
The said travelers will no longer be required to undergo facility-based quarantine but they will have to self-monitor for symptoms for seven days.
Unvaccinated, partially vaccinated, or those whose vaccination status cannot be verified must also comply with the test-before-travel requirement and undergo facility-based quarantine upon their arrival to the country with another RT-PCR test taken on the fifth day.
Aside from this, the said travelers will have to self-monitor for symptoms for the remainder of the 14-day quarantine.
There are 32 countries and territories under the Philippines' green list from January 16 until the end of the month.
Yellow list protocols
Fully vaccinated travelers from yellow list territories must present a negative RT-PCR test taken within 48 hours prior to departure from the country of origin.
They are required to undergo facility-based quarantine for seven days upon their arrival to the country with an RT-PCR test taken on the fifth day. They may be released from quarantine if the test will come out negative.
Unvaccinated, partially vaccinated, or those whose vaccination status cannot be verified must also comply with the test-before-travel requirement and undergo a complete 14-day facility-based quarantine upon their arrival to the country with an RT-PCR test taken on the seventh day.