Philippine COVID-19 task force adds Gulf states in travel green list

The lead government body dealing with the coronavirus pandemic, Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF), announced that Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates – as well as India, Japan and Pakistan – were added to the green list effective Nov. 16 until Nov. 30.

The IATF also approved a recommendation for arrival quarantine protocols to acknowledge and accept national COVID-19 vaccination certificates of countries including Australia, Georgia, India, United Kingdom and Samoa.

Expatriate Filipinos working in Gulf countries have been clamoring for Philippine authorities to add their host states in the green travel list in time for Christmas and New Year holiday celebrations, traditionally a period where many travel home to spend time with their families.

Before the Gulf countries’ inclusion in the green list, fully vaccinated OFWs originating from there are required to stay in a hotel or a facility for quarantine until they received a negative PCR test taken on their fifth day upon arrival. They are then required to undergo home quarantine until their 10th day.

OFWs can also choose to forgo institutional quarantine if they provided a negative PCR test result within 72 hours prior to their flight, but must self-monitor for any symptom until their 14th day in the country.

Some OFWs shunned travel because their intended stay in the Philippines would be less than two weeks, the required period for monitoring for coronavirus.

Shiloh, a facilities supervisor in Abu Dhabi, said the announcement was “definitely a good news for Filipinos” who have wanted to go home for some time now.

“I am hopeful the green list designation would be extended until the Christmas and New Year for those plan to go home to have a meaningful celebration with their families,” he told Arab News.

He however has moved back his travel plans to next year considering what he described as the lateness of the IATF’s decision, as well as the continuing expensiveness of flight tickets.

Joy, a staff for a Dubai-based insurance company, was similarly happy with the Philippine government’s announcement but, like Shiloh, has already scuttled her plans to go home for the holidays.

“I will go home maybe early next year, since I had to plan my travel so it will not affect my work at the same time I have already conceded there will be no chance to celebrate Christmas with my family this year,” she said.