(File photo)
MANILA – The Philippine government is coordinating with the international community on the acceptance of vaccination cards issued to individuals who are already fully vaccinated against the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), Malacañang said on Tuesday.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque issued the statement after Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said Hong Kong does not honor the vaccination cards issued by the Philippines’ local government units and the Department of Health’s Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ).
“Well, nakakalungkot na balita po iyan (that is sad news),” Roque said in a virtual presser. “So, all I can say is nakikipag-ugnayan po ang gobyerno sa international community pagdating dito (we are coordinating with the international community on this issue).”
In a Twitter post earlier Tuesday, Locsin said the vaccination cards issued to fully vaccinated Filipinos are “not accepted in Hong Kong because they are not connected to a single source.”
Locsin’s statement came, after the Hong Kong announced its decision to lift the travel ban on the Philippines on Monday, allowing over 3,000 stranded Filipino workers to fly back to their employers.
Roque said the problems on the presentation of vaccination cards to host countries are being encountered not just by the Philippines but also by other countries.
He, nevertheless, guaranteed that the government is looking for ways to address the issue.
“We are finding ways and means now para magkaroon po tayo ng basehan na kilalanin yung ating mga vaccination card (so our vaccination cards will be recognized [by other countries],” Roque said.
He also expressed hope that the World Health Organization (WHO) will, take an initiative to have a “uniform” acceptance of vaccination cards.
“Problema po talaga kapag wala tayong standard na basehan para ipakita ang ating mga vaccination natin (It is really a problem if we do not have a standard basis in presenting our vaccination cards),” he said.
The Philippine government is issuing yellow cards for departing overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) said in an advisory.
The POEA advised the fully vaccinated OFWs to secure the BOQ-issued International Certificate of Vaccination, otherwise known as “yellow card,” when required by the host country.
Fully vaccinated OFWs may register for an appointment with BOQ at https://boq.pisopay.com.ph/. They are required to pay the PHP300 fee for the processing of the yellow card. (PNA)
