The national government leaves it to local government units to decide on whether to require travelers to present COVID-19 vaccination cards or a negative RT-PCR test result, Malacañang said Friday after some local officials expressed apprehensions about relying on vaccination cards.
Local government units may still accept COVID-19 vaccination cards—whether issued locally or overseas— or a certificate of quarantine issued by the Bureau of Quarantine as an alternative to the RT-PCR test, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said.
“This means that LGUs retain the discretion in requiring RT-PCR testing or accepting duly issued COVID-19 vaccination cards for allowed interzonal travel,” he said in a statement.
Roque said fully vaccinated senior citizens can travel from one province to another subject to the presentation of a COVID-19 vaccination card or certificate of quarantine, whichever is applicable.
It was in June that the government started to largely ease leisure travel restrictions again for those in the Greater Manila Area as vaccination ramped up in the capital.
While some LGUs have expressed apprehensions about the possible fabrication of vaccination cards, tourist spots such as Baguio City, and Siargao have decided to accept vaccination cards as a requirement for entry of travelers in place of negative RT-PCR test results.
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