ADDED HASSLE? | OFWs told to get ‘yellow card’ for employment pending unified vaccine card

August 12, 2021 , 09:56 AM

By Beatrice Puente

(August 12, 2021) – Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) must get their “yellow card” to serve as proof of their COVID-19 vaccination for employment abroad as the government struggles to launch a unified vaccine card, Cabinet secretary Karlo Nograles said on Wednesday.

Nograles said OFWs can obtain their international vaccination certificate from the Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ) under the Department of Health, similar to the document issued during the polio outbreak. IVCs are recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO).

“‘Yellow cards,’ in the meantime, will be issued to OFWs para ‘di sila mahirapan when they go abroad,” said Nograles on One News’ The Chiefs. “But actually, what we’re really working for is a uniform vaccination card na may digital QR (quick response) code.”

Hong Kong rejected the vaccine cards issued by local government units (LGUs) in the country since they did not come from a single source, according to Department of Foreign Affairs chief Teodoro Locsin Jr. Around 3,000 OFWs were expected to be deployed to Hong Kong.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the government is already coordinating with the international community to find ways to have the vaccine cards from LGUs recognized. He said other countries also share the same difficulties.

“Tinitingnan natin kung pupuwede rin ang WHO ay manguna na roon sa initiative para magkaroon tayo ng uniformed na pagtanggap ng mga vaccination cards,” said Roque in his press briefing last Tuesday.

Nograles, however, said he is clueless as to how OFWs can obtain their “yellow card,” reasoning out that “because it’s a new development.”

Applicants for the “yellow card” can process their documents online through the website of the BOQ with a corresponding fee of P300. OFWs also need to pay for an additional convenience fee depending on their preferred mode of payment—either through online banking, e-wallet, or payment centers.

Applicants who have existing overseas contracts or confirmed flight booking can obtain a “yellow card.” Only those who received COVID-19 shots from WHO-recognized manufacturers can get the card, particularly Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson, Sinovac, and Sinopharm.

Raly Tejada, the country’s consul general in Hong Kong, said the area would be “open” to accept “yellow cards” as proof of vaccination pending the release of the Philippines’ unified vaccine cards.

“It’s good that Hong Kong is amenable to accepting our WHO International Vaccine Certificate, which our Bureau of Quarantine is currently issuing, provided it includes the passport details of the holder,” said Tejada. “We are now consulting with the BOQ to have the passport details incorporated in the yellow card.”

Nograles, meanwhile, said they plan to launch the digital vaccine cards soon once the Department of Information and Communications Technology resolves its current issues.

(PM)

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