Guidelines on the validation process by POLOs of vaccination cards of OFWs

The Department of Labor and Employment on July 5, 2021 have released a Department Order no. 226 series of 2021 – Guidelines on the Validation Process by Phil. Overseas Labor Offices (POLOs) of Vaccination Cards / Documents of Fully Vaccinated Returning OFWs Pursuant to IATF Reso. Nos. 123-C and 124-A.

Pursuant to Resolution Nos. 123-C and 124-A, Series 2021, the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) approved the implementation of shortened facility-based quarantine for inbound fully vaccinated Filipinos, including OFWs, who stayed exclusively in “Green” countries/jurisdictions fourteen (14) days immediately preceding arrival in the Philippines, effective 01 July 2021.

IATF Resolution No. 123-C, item no. 3(11) specifically states that those fully vaccinated in countries/jurisdictions outside the Philippines must carry their official documentation of full vaccination validated through the Philippine Overseas Labor Offices (POLO), or present their International Certificate of Vaccination, whichever is applicable. The following Guidelines on the POLO validation process of vaccination cards/documents of returning OFWs who were fully vaccinated abroad is hereby promulgated:

Section 1. Coverage and Non-inclusion. This Department Order shall cover all OFWs whether documented or undocumented.

Section 2. Definition of Terms. For purposes of this Department Order, the following definition of terms are hereby adopted:

a. Regular / Documented OFWs refer to those who possess a valid passport and appropriate visa or permit to stay and work in the receiving country and whose contracts of employment were processed by the POEA or the POLO, as defined in the 2016 Revised POEA Rules and Regulations.

b. Undocumented OFWs refer to those who possess a valid passport and whose contracts of employment were not processed by POLO/POEA.

c. Fully vaccinated individuals refer to those defined in IATF Resolution No. 123-C, Series of 2021, are those who received any of the following:

i. More than or equal to two (2) weeks after having received the 2nd dose of COVID-19 vaccine in a 2-dose series; or

ii. More than or equal to two (2) weeks after having received a single-dose vaccine.

The vaccines administered to the individuals are included in any of the following:

1) Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) List of Compassionate Special Permit issued by the Philippine Food and Drug Administration; or

2) Emergency Use Listing of the World Health Organization.

d. Green Countries / Jurisdictions refer to those classified by the Department of Health (DOH) as “Low Risk” countries/jurisdictions based on IATF Resolution No. 123-C, Series of 2021, and listed in IATF Resolution No. 124-A, Series of 2021. The list shall be regularly updated by the DOH.

e. Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) refers to the overseas operating arm of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in the implementation of the Philippine labor policies and programs for the protection of the rights and promotion of the welfare and interests of Filipinos working abroad.

f. POLO Validation refers to the procedure conducted by the Labor Attaché or his/her authorized representative to validate the authenticity of a COVID-19 vaccination card/document of an OFW from the host country or jurisdiction.

g. POLO Vaccine Pass refers to the online certificate issued by the POLO that will attest to the authenticity of the vaccination card/document of the OFW.

Section 3. Documentary Requirements. The following documents shall be required to be presented by a returning OFW in applying for POLO validation:

a. Vaccine card/ any document issued by the host country/jurisdiction showing proof of full vaccination;

b. Valid Passport or Travel Document; and

c. Proof of Overseas Employment, such as a verified employment contract, Overseas Employment Certificate, proof of OWWA Membership or other applicable proofs of employment that the concerned POLO may require.

Section 4. Process of POLO Validation:

1. The returning OFW submits his/her application online by registering thru the ONEHEALTHPASS PORTAL accessible thru https://www.onehealthpass.com.ph/e-HDC/
   
2. To complete the application, the documents enumerated in Section 3 of this Order shall be uploaded by the returning OFW through the ONEHEALTHPASS PORTAL.
3. The POLO shall validate the documents submitted based on the available modalities for verification in the host country/jurisdiction, such as, but not limited to, QR Code Validation, Host Country/Jurisdiction Mobile App/Online Government Portal Verification. The validation process shall be at no cost to the OFW.

Upon approval of the application, the POLO shall, through the Portal, issue the POLO Vaccine Pass to the OFW. The POLO Vaccine Pass shall be sent electronically to the email address of the OFW registered in the ONEHEALTHPASS PORTAL.

Section 5. Submission/Uploading of Falsified Information or Documents. The OFW shall represent and warrant that all information and documents submitted in applying for a POLO Vaccine Pass are true, correct and complete based on his/her personal knowledge. If any information or document submitted is found untrue, inaccurate, not current, or incomplete, the POLO reserves the right to disapprove the application and recommend the imposition of appropriate disciplinary action in accordance with the 2016 Revised POEA Rules and Regulations.

Section 6. Arrival Procedure. The arrival procedure shall be based upon DOH-BOQ Memorandum Circular No. 2021-11, Series of 2021, and other pertinent DOH-BOQ issuances. The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) shall coordinate with the One-Stop-Shop (OSS) of the IATF-Task Group on the Management of Returning Overseas Filipinos (TGMROF) in this regard.

Section 7. Monitoring. The International Labor Affairs Bureau (ILAB) and the OWWA shall jointly monitor the effective implementation of this Department Order. Section 8. Effectivity. This Department Order shall take effect immediately.

The original copy of the Department Order below: