COVID-19 vax cards not a requirement for mall entry in Alert Level 1 areas — DILG

MANILA, Philippines — A COVID – 19 vaccination card is not a requirement for entry to malls in areas under Alert Level 1, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) clarified on Thursday.

DILG Undersecretary and spokesperson Jonathan Malaya said that vaccination cards will only be required in establishments inside malls that are classified as 3Cs or closed, crowded, and close contact spaces.

“Technically, you don’t need to present the vaccination card when you enter a mall. You are only required to present it when inside the mall, you are going to a restaurant, a spa, a movie house, or a similar establishment classified as 3C,” he said in an interview with ABS-CBN News Channel’s (ANC) Headstart.

“However, there are some malls that require the vaccination card right at the entrance, and for me, I think it’s something that they want to do, and I don’t see anything wrong about it,” he added.

In a text message to INQUIRER.net, Malaya said this applies only to areas under Alert Level 1 or the lowest COVID-19 alert level.

Malaya made the explanation over ANC when asked why some malls are requiring vaccine cards at the entrance when the government is not mandating vaccination.

To sort the confusion, he said mall managements should just follow the advice of Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez to not require vaccine cards at the mall entrance.

“So that we can sort of sort this confusion out, let us follow the advice of the Department of Trade and Industry Secretary Mon Lopez that the vaccination card is not required at the entrance of the mall. It is only required at the exact 3C establishment inside the mall, but not necessarily at the entrance of the mall,” Malaya said.

According to Malaya, among the establishments that may require vaccination cards are indoor personal care establishments, fitness studios, spaces for meetings, conventions and events, hotels, and indoor dine-in establishments.