Travelers can now enter the Philippines by presenting results of rapid antigen tests administered by professionals, the Palace has announced.
The Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on Emerging Infectious Diseases made the change on Wednesday, allowing tests administered and certified by a healthcare professional in a healthcare facility, laboratory, clinic, pharmacy, or other similar establishments from the country of origin of the traveler to be presented upon entry to the Philippines.
Previously, the IATF required travelers to present laboratory-based test results.
The IATF will also start accepting vaccination certificates from Bangladesh, Mexico, Pakistan and the Slovak Republic for purposes of arrival quarantine protocols and interzonal and intrazonal movement in the Philippines.
The Philippines has allowed all foreign nationals fully vaccinated against Covid-19 to enter its borders without entry exemption documents starting April 1.
The foreigners’ entry will be subject to the following conditions:
- they must be fully vaccinated, except only for minor children below 12 years of age traveling with their fully vaccinated parents;
- they must be carrying acceptable proof of vaccination;
- they must be carrying a passport valid for a period of at least 6 months at the time of their arrival to the Philippines; and
- they must obtain, prior to arrival, travel insurance for Covid-19 treatment costs from reputable insurance providers, with a minimum coverage of $35,000.00 for the duration of their stay in the Philippines.
Foreign nationals are required to present a negative RT-PCR test taken within 48 hours or a negative laboratory-based antigen test taken within 24 hours, prior to the date and time of departure from their area of origin. John Ezekiel J. Hirro