DOLE to validate vax cards of returning OFWs
VACCINATION cards of fully inoculated returning overseas Filipino workers will have to undergo validation by the Department of Labor and Employment’s (DOLE) Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO), Secretary Silvestre Bello III announced on Tuesday.
Citing IATF Resolution No. 123-C, item no. 3(ii), Secretary Bello said OFWs fully vaccinated in countries or jurisdictions outside the Philippines must carry their official documentation of complete vaccination or their International Certificate of Vaccination validated through the POLO.
Apart from the vaccine card or any document showing proof of vaccination, returning OFWs must also present their valid passport or travel document and verified employment contract to the POLO offices in their host country.
The application for validation must be made online via ONEHEALTHPASS PORTAL, which is accessible at https://www.onehealthpass.com.ph/e-HDC/.
Under DOLE Department Order No. 226 series of 2021, OFWs considered as “fully vaccinated” will refer to “individuals who received more than or equal to two weeks after having received the second dose of COVID-19 vaccine in a 2-dose series; or more than or equal to two weeks after having received a single-dose vaccine.”
Vaccines administered to individuals must also be included in any of the Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) List of Compassionate Special Permit issued by the Philippine Food and Drug Administration or Emergency Use Listing of the World Health Organization.
Earlier, the IATF through Resolution Nos. 123-C and 124-A, Series 2021 approved the implementation of shortened facility-based quarantine for inbound fully vaccinated Filipinos. This includes OFWs, who stayed exclusively in “Green” countries or jurisdictions 14 days before arrival in the Philippines, effective July 1, 2021.
The Department of Health classifies green countries or jurisdictions as ‘low risk’ based on IATF evaluation.
