VAX READY. The ceremonial vaccination of the tourism workers in Clark with DOT-3 director Caroline Uy (left), NTF deputy chief implementer Secretary Vince Dizon (2nd from left), DOT Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat (4th from left), DOH-3 director Corazon Flores (right), and CDC president-CEO Manuel R. Gaerlan (2nd from right). Photo by Joann Manabat
CLARK FREEPORT – Seeking 100 percent inoculation rate of the A1 health priority group in Pampanga, the Department of Tourism continues its vaccination drive for the tourism workers especially at this freeport.
This was announced by DOT Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat during the ceremonial vaccination drive at the Bicentennial Park on Saturday.
According to Puyat, the vaccination drive is crucial to the recovery of the tourism sector especially in Central Luzon. She also mentioned that in order to revive the tourism industry, travelers must feel safe as it begins with vaccination, especially the tourism frontliners.
Puyat shared that there are some 4,100 tourism workers who have been inoculated in Pampanga thus far and there are still about 300 more who will be vaccinated for their second dose. This number, Puyat added, represents the workers employed in quarantine and leisure hotels, and other employees in the tourism industry.
“We thank the LGU of Pampanga and CDC for prioritizing our tourism workers. We have very high hopes for Pampanga’s tourism rebound,” Puyat said.
“Very important ang Pampanga, ang Clark, lalo na ang airport, all over the world. Yun lagi ang tanong sa amin, are you vaccinated? So dapat ang mga pasahero, they feel safe,” she added.
Puyat disclosed that the quarantine period for travelers will be reduced. She said that the reduced quarantine period is for travelers with low and medium infections or those under the green and yellow risk countries.
The DOT secretary furthered that under the IATF resolution, the vaccinated travelers can leave quarantine facilities as early as five days after arrival while unvaccinated persons can go home seven days after arrival. In both of these cases, vaccinated and unvaccinated travelers must have a negative RT-PCR result that will be taken on the fifth and seventh day respectively, after arrival, as travelers complete their remaining quarantine at home.
The eligible inbound passengers, however, are limited to returning Filipinos and balikbayans, their families, and foreigners with valid visas.
“The reduction of the mandatory quarantine period for inbound travelers is an encouraging development for the country’s tourism industry. This move to shorten the period in quarantine facilities will be a relief to our kababayans this coming holiday season. This means less expenses for them and more time spent with their loved ones,” Puyat said.
The ceremonial vaccination drive was also attended by National Task Force Against Covid-19 deputy chief implementer Secretary Vince Dizon, DOT-3 director Caroline Uy, DOH-3 director Corazon Flores, and CDC president-CEO Manuel R. Gaerlan.
