Foreigners are temporarily barred from entering the Philippines starting March 22 – DOTr
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) recently declared that foreigners are temporarily not allowed to enter the Philippines starting March 22, 2020.
This is following the statement from the Department of Foreign Affair (DFA) (DFA) regarding the suspension of visa issuances and visa-free privileges due to the threat of novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Based on the report from GMA News Online, the DFA Foreign Circular No. 29-2020 stated: “Visa-free privileges including those based on Visa Waiver Agreements, those under Executive Order 408, s.1960, and for holders of Hong Kong and Macau SAR passports, Macau-Portuguese passports, and British National Overseas passports, are likewise temporarily suspended, effective March 22, 2020.”
Due to this, the transportation department also issued an advisory stating that “there will be a temporary travel ban on foreigners entering the country starting 12 a.m., 22 March 2020.”
However, DOTr clarified that “OFWs, repatriating Filipinos, their foreign spouses and children (provided that the foreign spouse and children are traveling with the Filipino national), foreign government and international organization officials accredited to the Philippines, will be allowed to enter the country.”
Meanwhile, those who are set to go abroad during the enhanced community quarantine are allowed to go out of the country at any ports in Luzon. They are just required to present within 24 hours the proof of international travel itinerary schedule. However, Filipino tourists who are departing are temporarily not allowed to go out of the Philippines.
The decision of DFA regarding this matter has the guidance of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF), Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said.
Based on the report, DOTr only allows “land, air and sea travel of uniformed personnel for official business, especially those transporting medical supplies, laboratory specimens related to the COVID-19, and other humanitarian assistance.”
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