Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian. (Alex Nueva España/Senate PRIB)
MANILA, Philippines — Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on Monday pushed for the easing of COVID-19 testing and quarantine requirements on fully-vaccinated foreign and local tourists, saying it would help spur the country’s economy and revive tourism jobs.
“If we’re easing travel restrictions on fully vaccinated Filipinos returning from trips abroad, I don’t see any reason why we should exclude those fully vaccinated foreign and local tourists as they are similarly situated,” Senate Sherwin Gatchalian, vice chairman of the Senate economic affairs committee, said in a statement.
“Besides, there’s more to gain economically speaking as it will bring back the workers in the tourism sector,” he added.
The senator issued the call after the government allowed Filipinos who were vaccinated in the Philippines and went abroad to only undergo a seven-day quarantine as opposed to 14 days once they arrive in the country.
An RT-PCR or swab test will only be done if the symptoms manifest within the quarantine period. The inbound traveler must carry a vaccination card which must be verified prior to departure and checked upon arrival in the Philippines.
The Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases already tasked the Department of Tourism and other government agencies to study protocols for inbound international travel for fully vaccinated individuals.
Gatchalian, meanwhile, pointed to a recent proposal by the European Union (EU) Commission exempting vaccinated people from testing or quarantines when traveling from one EU country to another and likewise urged a gradual easing of travel measures as inoculations against the coronavirus disease accelerate.
Furthermore, the senator cited latest guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that while fully vaccinated international travelers bound for the United States, including U.S. citizens, are recommended to get COVID-19 test three to five days after travel, they need not undergo self-quarantine following international travel.
According to Gatchalian, the easing of travel restrictions for inoculated individuals can help alleviate vaccine hesitancy among the Filipino public.
“Marami sa atin ang gusto nang makapamasyal, pero kung napagtanto nila na maaari nilang magawa ito kung nabakunahan na sila, tiyak na dadami ang bilang ng mga pupunta sa mga vaccination centers,” he added.
(A lot of us already want to go out, but if they see that they can do this once they have been vaccinated, I’m sure a lot of people will head to vaccination centers.)