Quarantine bureau opens satellite office in Subic Freeport

Bureau of Quarantine Subic chief Dr. Joseph Macaraeg (second from left) leads the inauguration of its satellite office inside the Subic Bay Freeport. He is joined by (left-right) Dr. Howard Lazo, Harbor Point general manager Engr. Lesly Manalo, and BOQ Subic deputy director Dr. Roberto Salvador Jr. (Photo courtesy of SBMA)

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT — Citing the increasing demand for International Certificates of Vaccination (ICVs) or “yellow cards” that are required when traveling to other countries, the Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ) formally opened its satellite office here on Tuesday, Dec. 14.

In a statement, Dr. Joseph Macaraeg, BOQ Subic chief, said the new satellite office is its first office in Central Luzon and fourth in the country.

Situated in Harbor Point Ayala Mall, the new office is expected to decongest their three other offices in Manila.

According to Macaraeg, more people are applying for yellow cards, especially since Subic has become a busy entry and departure point for both the crew change and OFW repatriation programs of the government.

“Before, we were only getting 30 to 50 applications per day, now we’re handling around 300 applications,” he said.

Wilma Eisma, SBMA chair and administrator, said it was on Sept. 10 when the BOQ began receiving high volume of applicants for the yellow cards among the freeport’s residents and other stakeholders from the neighboring communities of Olongapo City, Zambales, and Bataan,

The BOQ said it has already issued more than 5,000 ICVs in the country and the new satellite office here would serve more.