Drop the quarantine for them

“I am talking about immunized balikbayan, OFWs and foreign tourists”

This Christmas season is an opportune time for the country to open its doors to international tourism, which can be one of the key drivers in our post-pandemic economic recovery.

The Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases should, once and for all, use common sense to allow fully vaccinated tourists from “Green and Yellow” countries.

There is no sense discriminating against travelers from Yellow-listed nations, particularly the United States, when the Philippines itself would essentially fall under the Yellow category, referring to countries with “moderate risk” for COVID-19 or with decreasing infection incidence.

On the condition that we admit only fully-vaccinated travelers with a negative result on COVID test taken within three days prior to their arrival in the country, the IATF can reasonably waive the quarantine requirement altogether.

This should apply to both returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), balikbayans and foreign nationals on leisure trips.

Imagine a completely immunized balikbayan from the US who comes to celebrate Christmas with the family in the Philippines for one or two weeks, and he or she has to go on quarantine for three days and take a repeat swab test.

This is very taxing for balikbayan seniors who are otherwise healthy enough and excited to travel to their hometown.

The mandatory five-day quarantine should apply only to unvaccinated Filipino citizens who have to take the swab test upon arrival.

The airlines should be made aware that only completely immunized foreigners will be allowed entry to the country.

Tourism heavyweights Thailand and Indonesia have reopened their borders to international visitors but the Philippines can offer far better travel experiences in diversely-rich tourist attractions.

Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion said with improved public health conditions and with health and safety protocols strictly enforced, we can allow foreigners in and let over five million displaced workers go back to their tourism-related jobs.

The Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of Tourism (DOT) have done a great job ensuring that most of the “tourism frontliners” have been inoculated with the COVID-19 vaccine.

We can welcome foreigners and promote responsible tourism in our refreshed tourist destinations like the world-renowned Boracay Island which underwent rehabilitation since mid-2018.

Other popular destinations, namely Palawan, Bohol, Siargao and Cebu island provinces must have rejuvenated after almost two-years of respite.

These tourist destinations and many others have removed the RT-PCR test as a requirement to enter in their jurisdictions to encourage domestic and international visitors.

I hope foreigners and balikbayan will no longer be required to wear the stupid face shield, too.

The Turismo Isulong Mo Partylist (TURISMO) also called on the IATF to allow foreigners who long to join their Filipino fiancées.

Former Tourism secretary and TURISMO Partylist nominee Wanda Tulfo-Teo said not quite a few foreigners were forced to depart for their home countries during the early weeks of the chaotic Luzon lockdown amid the COVID epidemic last year.

“Thousands of couples have suffered long enough having been unable to get back together owing to the IATF travel ban on foreign nationals, excepting only spouses of Filipino citizens with visa and proper documentation,” Teo said.

Teo noted that many foreigners, who had stayed in the islands and embraced the Filipino culture, have children with their Filipino partners, built their homes, set up business in various localities or began retirement pending processing of their immigration papers.

These couples deserve a chance to get back together under the principle of family reunification.

Active COVID-19 cases in the country could go down further but if mobility increases to pre-pandemic level compliance with health standards goes down, active cases may shoot up again in December, said Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire.