Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 15) — Local government units and the Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ) must have interoperability to be able to solve the lack of a unified COVID-19 vaccination card, which now affects overseas Filipino workers, Vice President Leni Robredo said.
“Sana this early, magkaroon ng isang database sa buong bansa nang mga nababakunahan,” she said during her radio show on Sunday.
[Translation: It would be good if this early, there will be a nationwide database of vaccinated people.]
Robredo said that once such a system is in place, the LGUs and the BOQ must coordinate on the issuance of a unified vaccination card, allowing those Filipinos who will get their second coronavirus shot to secure the card at the inoculation sites.
“Kasi kung sa Bureau of Quarantine lang, ilang buwan na naman maghihintay kasi magveverify pa sa database ng LGUs,” Robredo said.
[Translation: Because if it’s just the Bureau of Quarantine, it will take a few more months because they will need to verify the with the database of LGUs.]
Robredo made the suggestion after the Hong Kong government refused to recognize the vaccination cards of OFWs issued by Philippine LGUs.
READ: Hong Kong won’t honor PH vaccination cards, but govt agency fixing documents
In a briefing on Saturday, BOQ Director Roberto Salvador said international travelers may apply for the World Health Organization-recognized International Vaccine Certificate or “yellow card”.
Salvador said they are targeting to issue digital vaccination certificates next month.
