PH Gov’t Lifts Travel Ban To Mainland China For OFWs
PH – The Philippine government announced the lifting of the travel ban to mainland China except for Hubei Province.
On February 2, the Philippine government imposed a travel ban on mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. To date, the deadly virus has infected more than 138,000 people globally with over 5,000 deaths.
In late February. The Philippine government removed the travel ban for OFWs, students and permanent residents bound for Macau and Hong Kong. On Friday last week, the death toll from the pandemic in China has reached 3,189.
On Sunday, the Department of Foreign Affairs took to social media to gave an update regarding the travel ban from mainland China. Based on the government agency’s post, the Philippine government lifted the travel ban to mainland China except for Hubei province, the epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak. The DFA informed the public following the March 12, 2020 resolution of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Disease (IATF).
However, not all are covered by the lifting of the travel ban.
The DFA clarifies that the lifting of the travel ban only covers the following:
- Returning OFWs who are able to present valid visas and/or work permits, overseas employment certificate, notarized and other relevant documents pertaining to their current employment in mainland China as may be required by immigration authorities;
- Pinoys with permanent resident visas; and
- Pinoys government officials traveling to mainland China on official duty
Excluded from the lifting of the travel ban are:
- Tourists
- Dependents of OFWs
- OFWs on first-time deployment to mainland China
- Students
According to DFA, these guidelines are regularly reviewed by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Disease and a further announcement will be made in due course.
What can you say about this article? Leave your comments and reactions below.
