Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat. (FILE) Photo courtesy of the Department of Tourism
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Tourism (DOT) wants to reduce the quarantine period of returning Filipinos who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 from the previous 10 days to seven days.
Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said Tuesday that this was to encourage returning Filipinos to travel to the Philippines, noting that the long 10-day quarantine at hotels discourages them to come home.
“Of course the goal is as more and more Filipinos are vaccinated, then maybe we can take a look at lessening the quarantine days but as of now we just want from 10 to seven days at least,” she told ABS-CBN News Channel (ANC).
Puyat noted that many returning Filipinos are already fully vaccinated against COVID-19 but are still required to undergo the quarantine period the same as those who have not received the anti-coronavirus shots.
In Thailand, for example, quarantine days for fully vaccinated individuals have been shortened from the previous 10 days to only seven days, said the Tourism chief.
In a text message to INQUIRER.net, Puyat said the proposal covers returning overseas Filipinos, overseas Filipino workers, and “balikbayans” who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
“The point is we have to start somewhere. For example for balikbayans, our third largest market, it could be like a test, like if the DOH [Department of Health], the other agencies allow to reduce to seven days, at least it’s not 10 days, we can encourage more people to come, to test at least,” she said in her ANC interview.
“We are still proposing at least shorter quarantine days to encourage them to come home,” Puyat added.
On Friday, the DOT also proposed the creation of a “green lane” that will “facilitate the entry of foreign visitors who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.”
Puyat said the DOT will discuss the proposal to other concerned government agencies on Wednesday.