Travelers urged to register for eArrival Card 72 hours before visiting Philippines

The Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ) on Thursday urged travelers to the Philippines to register for an eArrival Card 72 hours before leaving their countries of origin.

At the televised public briefing, BOQ deputy director Dr. Robert Salvador said this is to avoid problems with internet connection and possible congestion in airports.

“Lahat po ng traveler pabalik po ng Pilipinas nire-require po natin na mag-register sa eArrival Card 72 hours bago po sila umalis ng bansa,” he said.

(We require all travelers returning to the Philippines to register for an eArrival Card 72 hours before their departure.)

For those who failed to register, eArrival Cards could also be accomplished upon arrival, Salvador said.

“Pero doon naman po sa mga may problema na makapag-register po, meron naman po tayong mga dinelegate na staff na tutulong sa kanila na mag-accomplish pag dating sa Pilipinas,” he said.

(But for those who had difficulty registering, we have delegated staff here that will help them accomplish the card once they arrive.)

Salvador stressed that the application for the eArrival Card, which replaced the One Health Pass, is free at the official website onehealthpass.com.ph.

“So tandaan din po natin na wala pong bayad ang eArrival card. Kapag po kaya nire-direct sa ibang sites at nang hihingi lang po ng ibang bayad, automatic po fake na po ito,” he said.

(Let’s remember that the eArrival card is free of charge. If you are directed to another site and are asked for payment, it is automatically fake.)

“Inilapit na rin po natin ito sa mga law enforcement agencies, sa cybercrime ng NBI at PNP. So talaga pong ang problem po kahit po i-take down nila ‘yung existent na mga fake websites, gumagawa sila ng panibago,” he added.

(We have also informed our law enforcement agencies like the cybercrime divisions of the National Bureau of Investigation and the Philippine National Police. Even if the websites are taken down, new ones are being created.)

Daily arrivals

Salvador said at least 18,000 travelers arrive in the country daily and it is expected to increase in the coming days.

“Sa ngayon po tataas po talaga ang expected na uuwi natin sa ating bansa. Ngayon po 18,000 pataas ang umuuwi every day dito sa bansa natin,” he said.

(Our arrivals are increasing. Right now there are more than 18,000 individuals arriving in our country every day.)

“Pero kagandaan po napakababa na po ng mga umuuwi na partially vaccinated or unvaccinated. So halos wala na po. Mababa na po ‘yung data natin,” he added.

(The good news is the number of partially vaccinated or unvaccinated arrivals has decreased.)

Fully-vaccinated travelers or individuals who have been vaccinated against COVID-19 with their first and second doses do not need to get an antigen or RT-PCR test, he said.

On the other hand, individuals partially vaccinated or unvaccinated must get tested 24 hours before arriving in the Philippines. —KBK, GMA Integrated News