DOH: One Health Pass changed to eArrival card

MANILA – After receiving several complaints from travelers, the Department of Health (DOH) announced that the One Health Pass (OHP) has been changed to a new electronic arrival (eArrival) card.

DOH Officer-in-Charge Maria Rosario Vergeire stated that this decision was made by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID).

According to Vergeire, the OHP is asking too much data from travelers. Travelers are also not allowed to board the plane if they do not upload their OHP.

The eArrival card, health official said, is way more convenient for travelers.

“Kakaunting datos nalang ang nakalagay diyan. Wala na pong masyadong hinihingi na requirements. Pangalawa, kung hindi mo ma upload yan, meron tayong special lane sa ating mga airports kung saan pagdating mo, ia-assist ka nila, doon ka magu-upload, at doon mo makukuha ang eArrival card mo (Only a little data is needed and we won’t be asking several requirements. Second, if you cannot upload it, there are special lanes in the airports for those arriving. They will be assisted in uploading and they can get their eArrival card),” said Vergeire.

Vergeire stated that the goal of the OHP is also the same with the eArrival card.

“Hindi po nawala ang objective ng One Health Pass with this transition to the eArrival card. Kung ano mang datos ang kailangan natin prior to this na nasa One Health Pass, kinukuha pa rin natin (The objective of the One Health Pass remains with this transition to the eArrival card. We will still get)— two major details: the travel details and the profile of the individual which includes the vaccination status,” she said.

The DOH recently asked the Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ) to review the details concerning the OHP.

Senator Nancy Binay has also urged for the removal of the OHP, citing “increasing traveler complaints about the inconvenience of the screening system.”

As the tourism industry attempts to recover from the pandemic, Binay requested that the agencies concerned “consider simplifying the processes that visitors must undergo.”

She said that numerous “overseas Filipino workers have complained that the OHP verification process has resulted in long queues at the country’s airports.”