The Philippines is now recognizing national COVID-19 vaccination certificates from two more countries, Malacañang announced Thursday, Feb. 24.
Cabinet secretary and acting presidential spokesperson Karlo Nograles said the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases has approved the acceptance and recognition of vaccination certificates from Romania and the British Virgin Islands.
Nograles said the vaccination certificates of the said territories shall be "accepted/recognized as other proofs of vaccination required for purposes of arrival quarantine protocols as well as for interzonal/intrazonal movement."
This is in addition to other countries, territories, and jurisdictions whose proofs of vaccination have already been approved for recognition in the country by the IATF.
Nograles added that the recent decision is also without prejudice to such other proofs of vaccination approved by the IATF for all inbound travelers.
Meanwhile, the Bureau of Quarantine, the Department of Transportation-One-Stop-Shop, and the Bureau of Immigration have been directed to recognize only the proofs of vaccination approved by the IATF.
The Philippine government last Feb. 10 started to accept foreign travelers into the country for business and tourism purposes after having its borders closed for almost two years, with eased requirements for foreign spouses and children of Filipino citizens.