(photo courtesy: http://www.pna.gov.ph)

Arriving passengers who can avail of "green lanes" no longer need to observe a mandatory quarantine upon arrival in the Philippines, so long as they are fully vaccinated and test negative for Covid-19, Malacañang said on Wednesday.

This developed after the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) updated the protocols for fully vaccinated individuals who are qualified for green lanes.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said new rules will take effect on Oct. 14.

In a press statement, Roque said fully vaccinated foreign nationals must yield negative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test result within 72 hours before they depart from the country of origin.

"Upon arrival, no facility-based quarantine will be required but the passenger is enjoined to self-monitor for any symptoms until the 14th day," Roque, who concurrently serves as IATF-EID spokesperson, said.

The same protocol also applies to fully vaccinated Filipinos, Roque said.

Roque said fully vaccinated Filipinos may also opt to undergo a facility-based quarantine until the release of a negative RT-PCR test taken in the quarantine facility upon arrival.

"The passenger [who is no longer required to undergo quarantine] is enjoined to self-monitor for any symptoms until the 14th day," he said.

The IATF-EID, in its Resolution 142 approved on Oct. 7, initially directed fully vaccinated individuals from "green" countries to undergo facility-based quarantine until the release of the negative result of their RT-PCR test taken on their fifth day in the country.

The IATF-EID classified green countries or jurisdictions as "low risk" countries or jurisdictions, upon the recommendation of the Department of Health.

The task force, in its new guidelines, also shortened the quarantine period for unvaccinated individuals.

Roque said unvaccinated or partially vaccinated individuals, as well as those with unverified vaccination status and those vaccinated but failed to comply with the "test-before-travel requirements", must undergo a facility-based quarantine until the release of a negative RT-PCR test taken on their fifth day in the country.

"In the case of foreign nationals, they shall be required to secure hotel reservations for at least six days," Roque said.

Originally, they are required to undergo quarantine for seven days and spend home quarantine for another seven days.

Roque said unvaccinated or partially vaccinated minors traveling with their fully vaccinated parents or guardians are mandated to observe the quarantine protocols corresponding to their vaccination status.

"A parent/guardian shall accompany the child in the quarantine facility for the full term of the latter's facility-based quarantine period," he said.

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