MANILA – Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ) Director Roberto Salvador Jr. stated on Monday that beginning September 1, travelers and returning overseas Filipinos will be able to use the One Health Pass.
“Malaking tulong po ito sa mga kababayan natin na uuwi dito sa Pilipinas. Ang purpose po talaga nito is ma-decrease po iyong inconvenience ng mga kababayan nating uuwi dito (This a big help to our fellowmen going home to the Philippines. Its purpose is to reduce the inconvenience they encounter going home),” Salvador said in Laging Handa public briefing.
Travelers can register for OneHealthPass at (https://www.onehealthpass.com.ph/e-HDC/), he said, which automates all the processes.
In order to achieve a paperless set of procedures, travelers and returning overseas Filipinos (ROFs) would only need to register on the electronic health declaration checklist once from their point of origin.
All information will be forwarded to the appropriate government agencies, including the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, the Department of Tourism, the Maritime Industry Authority, the Philippine Coast Guard, and the Overseas Shipping Service.
“Magagamit po ito para po continuous na maipasa ang mga impormasyon, magamit po ito hanggang makauwi sila doon po sa LGU [local government unit] nila (The information will be passed on continuously and be used until they get home to their LGU),” Salvador said.
According to him, a two-week trial of the One Hospital Pass resulted in 80% registration compliance from travelers at their place of origin.
The unreliable internet connection at the airport was one of the challenges he experienced during the trial, he claimed.
“So, kaya po humihingi po tayo ng tulong nga po sa DOTr na maibalik po sana iyong internet access natin sa lahat ng paliparan po natin dito sa Pilipinas po (we’re asking help from the Department of Transportation for the resumption of internet access at the airport),” Salvador said.
He stated that the One Health Pass is simple to use, requiring only personal information and other information such as flight details.