DOLE eyes shorter quarantine for OFWs vaccinated abroad to just 7 days

File photo from DFA

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on Tuesday said that it will appeal for the reduction of the quarantine period of returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who were vaccinated outside the country to just seven days.

“Susubukan ko pa rin na kung maaari kung ‘yung ating mga OFW ay bakunado na, medyo bawas bawasan ‘yung quarantine period,” said DOLE Secretary Silvestre Bello III in an interview over TeleRadyo.

(I will still try to appeal the reduction of the quarantine period for OFWs who are already vaccinated.)

“Baka sakaling makahirit ako ng seven days,” he added.

(It might be possible to lower it further to seven days)

The national government earlier announced that it has shortened the quarantine period for OFWs who were locally inoculated to just seven days from 10 days.

The new policy, however, does not cover returning Filipinos and foreign nationals who have been fully vaccinated abroad. They still have to undergo a 10-day facility-based isolation and take a swab test on the seventh day.

According to Bello, lowering the quarantine period for OFWs inoculated abroad may also speed up the turnover of quarantined individuals, allowing the decongestion of quarantine facilities.

On May 25, the Department of Tourism said that the long 10-day quarantine at quarantine facilities discourages Filipinos abroad to come home despite being already vaccinated.

EDV