WELCOME Travelers who arrive at the Bohol-Panglao International Airport, like these passengers on Friday, are no longer required to present their COVID-19 vaccination cards provided they do not show symptoms of the disease. —LEO UDTOHAN
TAGBILARAN CITY — As cases of COVID-19 continue to wane, the province of Bohol has decided to ease the mandatory presentation of COVID-19 vaccination cards when entering the island.
“Relaxing the entry protocol to Bohol is one way of stimulating the local economy and starting the march to economic recovery,” said Bohol Gov. Erico Aristotle Aumentado.
Under Executive Order No. 32 which he signed on Wednesday, Aumentado, however, stressed that the nonmandatory presentation of vaccine cards applies to asymptomatic individuals only.
Inbound travelers exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 will be required to present their vaccination cards before they will be allowed to enter the province, the governor’s EO said.
Those who cannot present a vaccination card will be advised to seek medical intervention and disclose their personal details and point of destination for possible contact tracing, the order added.
Bohol earlier required travelers to present vaccination cards or certificates before entering the island. Those unvaccinated travelers were required to present a negative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction swab test result taken 72 hours before departure from their point of origin.
Get vaxxed
Aumentado said it was time to slowly relax some policies, especially since many people have been vaccinated against COVID-19.
He urged those who have yet to be inoculated against the virus to get vaccinated to further bring down the cases of COVID-19.
“(The vaccination drive will be) intensified in all levels of the local government units in Bohol,” the governor said.
Bohol, which has a population of 1.3 million based on the 2020 census, is home to the famed Chocolate Hills and numerous beach resorts, which are the prime drawers for leisure travelers entering the island.
As of September 21, Bohol recorded a total of 26,170 COVID-19 cases since the pandemic struck in March 2020. Of the number, 150 were still active, based on data from the Department of Health. —LEO UDTOHAN