Shorter quarantine pushed for fully vaccinated OFWs, ROFs

CEBU, Philippines —  The Cebu provincial government will be implementing shorter quarantine days for fully vaccinated overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and returning overseas Filipinos arriving in Cebu.

For as long as they can present documents and proof that they are fully vaccinated, these arriving OFWs and ROFs will undergo shorter quarantine as Capitol’s way to incentivize vaccination.

“Vaccination is a personal choice, and it should be incentivized,” said Governor Gwendolyn Garcia  during her meeting with officials from the Department of Tourism, Department of Health, Bureau of Quarantine, Hotel, Resort, and Restaurant Association of Cebu, and the Overseas Workers Welfare and Administration yesterday, September 7.

The proposed new protocol was discussed during the meeting, where in Garcia announced that she will be issuing a new memorandum in implementing the new testing and quarantine protocol for covered individuals.

Under the new rule, fully vaccinated OFWs and ROFs will still be swabbed upon their arrival at the airport.

After, these returning Filipinos abroad will be quarantined at the hotel and undergo another swab test on the fifth day.

"If tested on the 5th and then the result comes out negative, then  there's no point of staying in extra two days,” Garcia said.

Those who are not yet vaccinated will have to stick to the regular quarantine protocol set by the IATF.

The Bureau of Quarantine will be the one to verify the documents to be presented by vaccinated individuals upon their arrival like Vaccination Card, Government Certification of vaccination or the BOQ-issued International Certification of Vaccination (ICV) for ROFs and Philippine Overseas Labor Offices (POLO)-Verified Vaccination Card or Government Certification of Vaccination for OFWs. — JMD (FREEMAN)