Article by:
John Rey Saavedra
CEBU CITY – Governor Gwendolyn Garcia has cited the new policy of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) for opening the country to foreign nationals starting February 10.
Garcia, who met with consuls from South Korea, Japan, and China on Monday, said IATF Resolution 160-B issued on February 3 will help the tourism industry in Cebu province bounce back after being distressed due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic and Typhoon Odette.
Representatives from airline companies, Hotel, Resort and Restaurant Association of Cebu (HRRAC), tour operators, as well as officials from the Department of Tourism, Department of Health, Bureau of Quarantine, Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority, and GMR Megawide Cebu Airport Corporation attended the meeting at the provincial capitol.
Garcia said the meeting was sought to align provincial government policies with the IATF rules in accepting foreign nationals who are fully vaccinated.
“This involves the very survival of several industries of tourism-related so let’s make a decision here in Cebu and I (will) take that lead. We allow the entry of foreign nationals coming from visa-free countries (that) issued their proper vaccination cards,” she said.
Vaccination cards to be presented upon entry here should have quick response (QR) codes that may pass validation through the database in the country of origin, Garcia said.
“I will invoke the general welfare clause where it is my responsibility to uphold the general welfare of the tourism industry and other tourism-related industries that now is in a pandemic, severely and acutely and critically affected,” she added.
Garcia said she will issue a memorandum outlining new protocols for the arriving foreigners in consonance with the IATF guidelines.
The guidelines said all travelers must present a negative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test taken within 48 hours before departing from the country of origin.
Facility quarantine will no longer be required but self-monitoring of Covid-19 symptoms will be done for seven days. (With report from Carlo Lorenciana/PNA)
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