Robredo to BOQ: Issue yellow card after COVID-19 vaccine 2nd dose

Vice President Leni Robredo on Sunday proposed that the Yellow Card, a World Health Organization-recognized vaccine certification for international travelers, should be issued after an individual gets fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

Currently, the Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ) is issuing yellow card that indicates an individual has been vaccinated, which can be presented to the country of destination that requires it. 

For now, Robredo said applying for yellow card -- especially those who immediately need it -- is "doable." But, for her, it would be difficult to impose another application for a yellow card once the demand for the document surges.

With this, she hoped that local government units (LGUs) and BOQ may work together to create a single database, which could be efficient in providing the yellow card.

"Sana this early, magkaroon ng isa lang na database na nabakunahan at decentralized na ito. Pwede namang Bureau of Quarantine nag-isyu (yellow cards) pero hindi na lahat ng nagbabakuna, lahat mag apply nang hiwalay sa BOQ. Kasi sakin dinodoble anitn yung trabaho," Robredo pointed out in her weekly radio program.

(This early there should be only one database for vaccination. BOQ can still issue the yellow cards but not all of those already vaccinated should apply again for certification at BOQ. For me, we are just doubling the job.)

"Iyong bureaucratic red tape sobrang haba. Hanapan na sana ng sistema... Dapat pagkatapos ng second dose, mabigyan  na siya (ng yellow card)," she further said.

(The bureaucratic red tape is getting worse. Let's create a better system. Maybe after the second dose, the vaccinated person should get the yellow card.)

Increased demand for yellow cards happened in the wake of the Hong Kong government's refusal to accept vaccine cards from the Philippines as these did not come from a single source.

Robredo said this is "bound to happen" since there is no unified database in the country, adding that Filipinos looking to work or stay in stricter countries like Hong Kong are affected by these vaccine card issues. —LBG, GMA News