BI: Fully vaccinated travelers must show quarantine bookings

MANILA, Philippines — Fully vaccinated passengers who fail to present valid quarantine bookings are deemed “improperly documented” even if they have the required documentary proof of vaccination upon arrival, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said yesterday.

In a statement, the BI warned that “foreign nationals who would not be able to present their quarantine bookings will be excluded for being improperly documented, while those who present fake bookings” may face deportation.

Immigration spokesperson Dana Sandoval clarified that without a proper quarantine booking, a fully vaccinated passenger will be denied entry.?Under the new guidelines, BI Commissioner Jaime Morente said that fully vaccinated inbound passengers are afforded the shorter period of seven days’ stay in a quarantine facility.

The Department of Health has listed 57 “green” countries from which fully vaccinated travelers are given that privilege.

Morente said passengers inoculated in the Philippines must carry their vaccination card, while those vaccinated overseas must present their International Certificate of Vaccination.

“Those vaccinated outside the Philippines must also come from the list of 57 ‘green’ countries to be able to undergo a seven-day facility-based quarantine only,” he said.

However, BI port operations division chief Carlos Capulong stressed that quarantine bookings are a must upon arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

He warned that deportation proceedings would be initiated against any passenger intercepted at the airport’s one-stop-shop for bearing fake documents.

Meanwhile, vaccination documents are also required for presentation before the Bureau of Quarantine and the port’s Department of Transportation one-stop-shop after being cleared by the BI.