Lacson urges faster quarantine protocols for vaccinated Filipinos

Senator Panfilo Lacson urged the government to expedite the release of standard quarantine protocols for vaccinated Filipinos to benefit the country's economic recovery.

Lacson appealed to the National Task Force Against COVID-19 to "make it sooner, not later" and to "mind the economy for a change."

Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. stated that a technical working group is developing protocols for Filipinos vaccinated domestically and internationally, aiming to give them the same quarantine treatment.

The plan also aims to extend the same treatment to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) vaccinated abroad as those inoculated in the Philippines.

Senator Vicente Sotto III advocated for easing mandatory quarantine rules for vaccinated OFWs and travelers.

Lacson previously supported a vaccine passport system to ease travel for vaccinated individuals, especially returning OFWs and foreign investors.

He also urged the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) to synchronize Philippine protocols with those of other countries.

Lacson also supported the Department of Health's recommendation to potentially scrap COVID-19 testing for inbound Filipinos fully vaccinated abroad, although this is still under study.