Philippines accepts Rwanda, Lao PDR COVID-19 vax certificates

The Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) has approved the acceptance and recognition in the Philippines of the national COVID-19 vaccination certificates of Lao PDR and Rwanda, Malacañang said Friday.

Acting presidential spokesperson Martin Andanar said the IATF agreed that the certification from the two countries can now be used for purposes of protocols in arrival, movement, and quarantine.

“This is in addition to other countries/territories/jurisdictions whose proofs of vaccination the IATF has already approved for recognition in the Philippines, and without prejudice to such other proofs of vaccination approved by the IATF for all inbound travelers,” he said in a statement.

According to Andanar, the IATF ordered the Bureau of Quarantine, the Department of Transportation-One-Stop-Shop, and the Bureau of Immigration to consider only the certifications approved by the IATF.

On Thursday, the Philippines reported 193 new COVID-19 infections, increasing the nationwide caseload to 3,685,222. Only 9,585 are active cases.

Independent research group OCTA Research said a surge in COVID-19 cases is likely after the May 9 elections following the reported detection of the Omicron BA.2.12 in the country.

On April 27, the Department of Health (DOH) announced that Philippine health authorities have detected the first case of Omicron BA.2.12 in Baguio City.

Based on the DOH’s surveillance systems, the new sub-lineage BA.2.12 was detected in a 52-year-old Finnish female who arrived from Finland last April 2. —LBG, GMA News