Negative RT-PCR result still needed for Boracay travelers, mayor says

By Jennifer P. Rendon

If a reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test result could be faked or tampered, how much more a vaccination card?

This was the reaction of acting Mayor Frolibar Bautista of Malay, Aklan to proposals of allowing fully-vaccinated individuals to travel without undergoing swab test for COVID-19.

“The vaccination card is devoid of any security code. There’s no way for us to verify or validate its authenticity,” he said.

But Bautista said they might adopt the idea if Boracay has already inoculated at least 70 percent of workers and residents in the island.

An individual is considered fully vaccinated 2 weeks after having received the second dose in a 2-dose vaccine; or more than or equal to 2 weeks after having received a single-dose vaccine, according to the National Interagency Task Force handling the country’s coronavirus pandemic response.

A fully vaccinated individual 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.

“If we reached our target or if we have achieved herd immunity, bahala na sila even if they present a fake vaccination card. What’s important is the safety of the people in the island,” he said.

But since Boracay is far from having achieved its target vaccination rate, “daw delikado gid. Basi may makalusot bala (It’s quite dangerous. Someone infected might get through),” he added.

Presently, Bautista said they have inoculated 12.5 percent of the target population.

Last week, the Department of Health and the Department of Tourism (DOT) sent 3,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines intended for Boracay workers. So far, 1,200 workers have been inoculated.

The local government, on the other hand, is now inoculating those who are in category A3 (persons with comorbidities).

“We only have one vaccination area and we vaccinate 600 workers per day. We project to cater to 1,000 workers a day once we open two vaccination areas next week,” Bautista said.

The national government reportedly promised more COVID-19 vaccines next week.

“Hopefully, we could reach a good number within 17 days,” he said.

The local government has reportedly asked 40,000 doses for workers and residents.

Bautista said they have around 12,000 workers in Boracay including around 3,000 frontline workers, tourist guides, those in the transport sector, vendors, and other informal workers.

Currently, the island has more than 7,000 workers since not all 399 accommodation establishments are operating.

“We only have 246 establishments that have gone back in operation. But once naging operational na, we foresee around 12,000 workers,” he said

Around 18,000 residents registered for vaccination.

“That’s why, we are asking for at least 40,000 doses to be able to vaccinate our target number of workers and residents,” he said

But Bautista is hopeful that they could get more doses.