Surigao del Sur towns ease entry for fully jabbed travelers
All tourists coming from different places who are already considered fully vaccinated for Covid-19 shall only be required to present their full dose vaccination card together with their valid identification card
BUTUAN City — The local government of Hinatuan and San Agustin in Surigao del Sur province announced that they have eased travel restrictions for travelers who are already fully vaccinated against the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).
Local chief executives from both towns stressed that easing restrictions on travel and not requiring negative RT-PCR tests for fully inoculated visitors are ways to jumpstart their economies and hopefully sustain it in the long run amid the pandemic.
Hinatuan Mayor Shem Garay said that since Covid-19 cases in the town had been curbed, there is already “a paramount need to lift some restrictions” in the imposed guidelines during the implementation of modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ).
The Hinatuan mayor issued an order directing all tourists coming from different places who are already considered fully vaccinated for Covid-19 shall only be required to present their full dose vaccination card together with their valid identification card. No other test result or medical certificate shall be required.
“It is deemed necessary to implement beneficial interventions that would rehabilitate the economic catastrophe during the imposition of stringent guidelines that will lead to a gradual economic recovery without jeopardizing the Covid-19 response to maintain health safety of the community,” Garay said.
San Agustin Mayor Libertad Alameda, on the other hand, said that the move to reopen all tourist destinations in his town is to ensure that the economic activities are still functioning.
“All tourists coming from outside Caraga region are required to present valid ID and vaccination card if available. If there is none, RT-PCR swab test and follow minimum health protocol,” said Almeda.
The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases explained that a fully vaccinated individual is someone who has more than or equal to two weeks after having received the second dose in a twodose vaccine; or more than or equal to two weeks after having received a single-dose vaccine.
It also emphasized that a fully vaccinated must be administered with vaccines that are included in the Emergency Use Authorization List or Compassionate Special Permit issued by the Philippine Food and Drug Administration or Emergency Use Listing of the World Health Organization.
Hinatuan is popularly known for its Enchanted River, a short stretch of river that flows into the Pacific Ocean with turquoise water and is around 80-feet deep
San Agustin town, meantime, is the home of 24 islands with white sandbar beaches scattered across waters of the Lianga Bay overlooking the Philippine Sea.
Hinatuan is popularly known for its Enchanted River, a short stretch of river that flows into the Pacific Ocean with turquoise water and is around 80-feet deep.