‘One Health Pass’ scrapped, eArrival Card launched

TO ENSURE ease of travel incoming travelers and at the same time protect the public from the deadly Covid-19, the national government has now implemented the use of Electronic Arrival Card (eArrival Card) scan-and-go system in the country’s airports.

The Bureau of Quarantine will require all inbound travelers to have an e-Arrival Card within 72 hours prior to their departure from their country of origin.

Arriving travelers should register for an e-Arrival Card prior to their departure via onehealthpass.com.ph or by scanning the QR code indicated in the poster released by the Department of Health (DOH).

The DOH issued the advisory as the Bureau of Quarantine transitions from the One Health Pass (OHP) to the eArrival Card to streamline arrival requirements for travelers.

The adoption of the eArrival Card will make entry to the Philippines more convenient for travelers as it removes unnecessary information fields present in the previous OHP system. 

Just recently, AirAsia Philippines and Cebu Pacific (CEB) also joined calls to scrap the OHP, saying some alternatives may be considered, citing the improved health situation in the country.

“As we head towards a strong air travel rebound, our passengers deserve a more convenient, reliable and hassle-free customer journey without sacrificing the safety net in our day-to-day operations," AirAsia spokesperson Steve Dailisan told the Philippine News Agency.

Dailisan said AirAsia supports initiatives that will enable seamless travel among its guests, such as a unified electronic arrival card system that is customer friendly and accessible for arriving passengers.

Senator Nancy Binay also called on the lifting of the OHP, saying this has become impractical and inconvenient for many travelers.

Passengers bound for the Philippines are required to register to the OHP, which Binay said had been a hassle to many returning Filipinos and overseas workers because this only adds to the screening procedures even if they are already quarantine-cleared and fully vaccinated with boosters.

She said even overseas Filipino workers have been complaining that the process of verifying the OHP has led to long lines in the country's airports.

This was also observed by Carmina Romero of CEB. “Usually, there is a line of passengers who are unaware of the OHP, in check-in counters in our international destinations. I am sure they were sent an email about (OHP registration), but some passengers don't read notifications,” she said.

Romero noted that OHP registration is also not easy for many, especially for foreign travelers. “It is not easy for them to tick the boxes about specific details of their destination in the Philippines, such as which National Capital Region district, which barangay. A foreign national usually has a hard time answering that,” she said.

She said without the OHP, a foreigner could instead be made to fill out an arrival card before landing. A returning Filipino, on the other hand, needs to prove that he or she is fully vaccinated or boosted against Covid-19. “Maybe we should start considering these too,” Romero said. (Maria Cristina Arayata, Cebu Examiner)