Philippines allows entry of fully vaccinated foreigners

The Philippine government has lifted the ban on the entry of foreigners, provided that they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and subject to additional protocols, Malacañang said Friday.

"Beginning February 16, 2022, proof of full vaccination shall be made a requirement for entry of all foreign nationals allowed to enter the Philippines," acting presidential spokesperson Karlo Nograles said at a press briefing.

Nograles, however, clarified that this does not include tourists.

"Hindi pa po natin binubuksan ang ating bansa [We are not yet opening our country] to international tourists," he said.

Nograles said the requirement for full vaccination against COVID-19 for foreigners will not apply on the following:

• children aged below 18 years old
• people medically unable to receive the vaccine as certified by a competent public health authority in the country or port of origin, and
• foreign diplomats and their qualified dependents/9E visa holders

The Department of Transportation, through the Civil Aeronautics Board, has been tasked to mandate the airlines to require foreign nationals traveling to the Philippines to present proof of full vaccination prior to boarding flights to any points in the Philippines.

Nograles made the announcement a day after the Philippines recorded 34,021 new COVID-19 cases in a day, the highest since the pandemic hit the country in March 2020. —KBK, GMA News