La Union now allows essential travel for fully vaxxed

SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union – The La Union provincial government now allows the essential travel and entry of fully vaccinated people in lieu of a negative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests.

La Union provincial information officer Adamor Dagang said Friday the travel and entry guidelines released last week apply to persons who have received their second vaccine dose at least two weeks prior to their travel to the province.

“Health experts said the body acquired immunity two weeks after their second dose of the vaccine. This is for essential travel only, however, so it does not apply yet to tourism-related travels regardless of quarantine status of where they come from,” he explained.

Gov. Francisco Emmanuel Ortega III issued Executive Order No. 29 on June 17 said that vaccines administered to individuals should also be included either in the Philippine Food and Drug Administration emergency use authorization (EUA) list or through a compassionate special permit (CSP).

“A fully vaccinated individual must carry his or her vaccination card which shall be verified on the borders before entry. The vaccination card shall be presented in lieu of the negative RT-PCR test. Individuals who have received a single dose vaccine shall necessarily present a negative result of RT-PCR taken at least 72 hours before entry to the province,” it added.

Dagang said overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) will be allowed entry to La Union, regardless of the purpose for inbound entry, if they can present a vaccination card.

“If such OFW has not yet completed his two doses, he shall be required to present a Certification from the Bureau of Quarantine that he has completed the seven-day quarantine; and the vaccines administered to the OFW are included either in the Philippine Food and Drug Administration EUA and the list or through a Compassionate Special Permit (CSP),” he added.

Regardless of the classification of individuals and the purposes of entry, however, Dagang said they will be required to register to NAPANAM and to present valid identification cards.