With the country accepting foreign nationals anew, Malacañang is confident that a surge in coronavirus (COVID-19) cases can be avoided if both tourists and locals will follow the minimum health standards set to prevent the spread of the virus.
Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles made the statement as the Philippines started to allow the entry of fully vaccinated foreign nationals to the country, almost two years after the country went on lockdown due to COVID-19.
In a virtual briefing, Nograles said that the government is doing its best to balance the need to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and revive the economy.
"So lahat ng mga protocols na ginawa po natin, tayo naman po ay confident (we are confident with the protocols that we have set)," he said during the Laging Handa briefing on Thursday, February 10.
According to Nograles, the entry of fully vaccinated foreign nationals, which starts on February 10, is aimed at reviving the tourism industry that took a toll because of the pandemic.
"We're confident because of these protocols, we will be able to ensure na mapi-pick-up ang tourism industry natin (that our tourism industry will start to pick up)," he said.
"Makakatulong po ito nang malaki sa mga lubos na naapektuhan sa sektor na 'yan (This will help those in this sector who were gravely affected)," he added.
The reopening of the country's borders will likewise help boost the economy, according to Nograles.
"Mapapabuti rin po natin ang economic growth and development ng ating bansa dahil mapapabangon na nga po uli natin ang ating tourism industry and all other industries dependent on tourism dahil magkakaroon po ng cascading effect 'yan (This will improve our economic growth and development because we are reviving our tourism industry and all other industries dependent on tourism because this will have a cascading effect)," he said.
However, the acting Palace spokesman said that to make sure that the entry of foreign nationals will not cause another surge in the number of cases, everyone must follow health protocols.
"If everybody complies with the minimum health and safety protocols natin, maging ang mga turista at lahat po tayo magko-comply, maa-assure po natin na hindi ito magiging sanhi ng spike o surge in COVID (but us and our tourists, we can ensure that this will not cause a spike in COVID-19 cases), he said.
Nograles said that this would be complemented by ramping up the country's vaccination rate.
"Tandaan po natin na 'pag foreign national coming to the Philippines dapat fully vaccinated. Tayo rin dapat sa Pilipinas (Let us remember that we are requiring foreign nationals to be fully vaccinated if they want to enter the country. Here, we should be fully vaccinated as well)," he said.
"For our own protection, kailangan po ma-ramp up din natin ang vaccination ng ating mga kababayan (we need to ramp up our vaccination)," he added.
Last week, the Inter-agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases released the updated protocols for the entry of foreign nationals to the Philippines.
Foreign nationals who want to enter the country must:
- Be fully vaccinated, except for children below the age of 12 traveling with foreign nationals
- Present a negative RT-PCR test taken within 48 hours prior to their flight to the Philippines
- Carry acceptable proof of vaccination
- Carry a return ticket or outbound ticket to their next country of destination
- Valid passport (at least six months by the time of their arrival)