Cebu to accept unvaccinated foreign nationals subject to quarantine by March 1
THE CEBU provincial government has again asserted its autonomy by issuing an order that will allow unvaccinated foreign travelers in starting March 1, contrary to the national pandemic task force’s guidelines limiting entry to fully inoculated tourists.
“Unvaccinated, partially vaccinated, or foreign national whose vaccination status cannot be independently determined traveling to Cebu for business or leisure shall be allowed entry,” according to an executive order signed by Governor Gwendolyn F. Garcia on Feb. 9 and took effect on the 10th.
The governor had previously locked horns with national officials over pandemic rules such as testing requirement and quarantine protocols.
In her order, Ms. Garcia cited provisions of the Local Government Code that gives her authority to make decisions for the province.
Section 465 of the code, she said, “empowers the Provincial Governor to carry out such emergency measures as may be necessary during and in the aftermath of a man-made and natural disaster or calamity.”
She justified the more lenient border restriction on the need to help the local tourism industry recover from the impact of the coronavirus as well as the recent Typhoon Odette (international name: Rai).
To “alleviate the difficulties experienced by the tourism sector, there is a need to adopt guidelines to ease the entry of foreign passengers traveling to Cebu for business or tourism purposes,” her order states.
Unvaccinated international travelers entering Cebu must present a negative RT-PCR test taken within 48 hours prior to departure from country of origin, undergo swabbing upon arrival, and stay in an accredited facility until the release of another negative RT-PCR test result with sample to be taken on the fifth day of quarantine. Those who test positive will be moved to an isolation facility.
The order also “strongly encouraged” unvaccinated foreigners to get inoculated during their stay in the province with the single dose Janssen vaccine to be made available to them by the Department of Health.
The Mactan-Cebu International Airport, operated by GMR MEGAWIDE Cebu Airport Corp., is the second busiest air hub in the Philippines after the main gateway in the capital.
Cebu is also one of the country’s top tourist destinations having diverse attractions, including diving, eco-tourism and heritage sites, and unique culinary fare. — Marifi S. Jara
