Sotto calls for removal of quarantine requirement for fully-vaccinated individuals entering Philippines

Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Thursday called on the national task force on COVID-19 response to remove the 14-day quarantine requirement for fully-vaccinated individuals entering the country, saying it defeats the purpose of vaccination.

“Calling on IATF [or the Department Of Health] to remove the 14-day quarantine on fully vaccinated persons entering the Philippines as long as health standards are followed,” he said in a Viber message to reporters.

IATF refers to the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Disease, the government policy-making body in addressing the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Why do fully vaccinated people have to still do the two-week quarantine when traveling to the Philippines? it doesn’t make sense! Defeats the  purpose of vaccinating so we can open the economy,” Sotto said.

Sotto said vaccinated investors are discouraged from coming to the Philippines because they have to undergo the mandatory quarantine.

He added that even Filipinos who are vaccinated are having "second thoughts" in returning to the Philippines.

But at a forum on Thursday, Dr. Alethea De Guzman, chief epidemiologist of the DOH, said all arrivals should still undergo quarantine regardless of vaccination status.

"Our action has always been very strong border control and that’s why part od our border control is ensuring that all arrivals, regardless of vaccination status, should be placed under quarantine," she said.

Recently, the Department of Tourism has proposed “green lanes” for fully-vaccinated individuals, including foreigners, overseas Filipino workers, and balikbayans.

Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat has also proposed cutting the quarantine period of fully-vaccinated balikbayans and OFWs from 10 days to seven days.

These green lanes will help vaccinated passengers and travelers have an easier entry into the country.

The proposal was previously opposed by Senator Nancy Binay, saying green lanes can be offered to Filipinos returning to the country but not to foreigners who will come here for leisure.

She further stressed that vaccinated individuals can still contract and spread the virus.

In April, the DOH said fully-vaccinated Filipinos who will return to the Philippines will still need to undergo the standard quarantine and testing protocols against COVID-19.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said this is because there is still "no sufficient evidence" that vaccines can block the transmission of the disease.

The DOH previously explained that vaccines can instead help prevent severe infection.   —with Julia Mari Ornedo/KBK, GMA News