BOQ expanding capacity in issuing 'yellow cards' amid surge in demand —official

The Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ) on Thursday said it is expanding its capacity to accommodate more requests for "yellow cards" due to a surge in demand.

“Nilalawakan natin yung serbisyo natin. Nago-open tayo sa iba’t ibang satellite station natin at tinataas natin yung capacity natin every day para maserbiyuhan yung mga kailangan ng yellow card,” BOQ deputy director Roberto Salvador Jr. told Unang Balita.

(We are expanding our services. We are opening different satellite stations and increasing our capacity every day to accommodate those who need the yellow card.)

A yellow card, or International Vaccine Certificate, contains a person's vaccination details and passport number and is recognized by the World Health Organization.

An August 26 report on Saksi said securing appointments for a yellow card for international travel will only be available by December 2021 as demand for the said document increases.

During the Unang Balita interview, he advised that only travelers who are about to leave the country should request for the slots, including overseas Filipino workers with overseas employment certificates and travelers with plane tickets.

“Sa ngayon po, talagang sobrang dami po ang gusto nang kumuha ng yellow card [Currently, too many people already want to get yellow card],” he said.

“Kaya nga po pinapakiusap po natin na ang talagang dapat po kumuha ng slot is yung mga paalis na po [That is why we are appealing that travelers who are about the leave should obtain the slot],” he added.

Salvador underscored that  the yellow card is not mandatory. He advised travelers to coordinate with their airlines and countries of destination about the requirements. —KBK, GMA News