Kids below 11 years old with vaccinated parents allowed to travel back to home provinces, PPA clarifies

The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) on Wednesday clarified that kids below 11 years old — whose COVID-19 vaccination program has yet to start — with vaccinated parents are allowed to travel if they are going back to their home provinces.

Interviewed on GMA News’ Unang Balita, PPA General Manager Jay Daniel Santiago pointed out that the travel of returning residents is considered essential.

“Papayagan po, provided po na ‘yung rason kung bakit sila ay pupunta sa kanilang destinasyon ay dahil po sila ay returning residents,” he said.

(They will be allowed, provided that the reason of travel to their destination is because they are returning residents)

Santiago noted that they should also comply with the order of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and PPA.

He made the clarification after receiving reports that some people were barred from ports because they are with their unvaccinated children who are below 11 years old.

According to Santiago, the PPA has corrected this and clarified the matter with port personnel on the ground.

On January 11, the DOTr issued Department Order No. 2022-001 that limits access to public transportation in NCR only to fully vaccinated individuals while the region is under Alert Level 3 or higher. - Joviland Rita/RSJ, GMA News