Instead of lengthy quarantine: Lacson backs use of ‘vaccine passports’ for arriving PH visitors

Senator Panfilo Lacson supports the implementation of a vaccine passport system that will make traveling to the Philippines easier for vaccinated people, especially for returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and foreign investors.

In an interview on ANC’s “Headstart” Monday (June 14), Lacson said many returning OFWs and foreign investors are reluctant to travel to the Philippines due to the mandatory quarantine requirement imposed by the government.

Lacson said many returning OFWs and foreign investors are reluctant to come to the Philippines because of tight protocols, especially those that may require them to spend more than a week in a quarantine facility not necessarily of their choice.

The senator urged the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases to fine-tune the protocols that will address these problems and make sure the protocols are in sync with those of other countries.

“For our returning OFWs, at most, we might require them to take a swab test then allow them to go home, then require them to stay at home for 10 days. No need to require them to stay at a hotel. Most of the time, OFWs return to the country because of an emergency. But if you are an OFW and you are required to be quarantined for 10 days, how many days of your leave will go to waste? I don’t think that makes sense,” he said.

“Also, our tourism sector and investment will suffer. If a potential investor who would like to come here learns of the requirements that include a swab test and stay at a quarantine facility not of his or her choice, would he or she still come?” the senator added.

To improve the pace of vaccination, Lacson urged the IATF to give local officials leeway in deciding who can receive the jab.

“Perhaps our regulations should be a bit open-ended instead of being too restrictive, to allow those on the ground to make decisions,” he said.

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Source: Latest Politics News Today (Politics.com.ph)