No decision yet on inbound travel restrictions on foreigners –Palace

Though COVID-19 confinement measures were eased this week, the government had yet to decide on whether to lift inbound travel restrictions on foreigners.

“Wala pa ho tayong desisyon sa IATF [Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases] na papasukin ang mga dayuhan,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a Tuesday televised briefing.

Roque added that allowing the entry of foreigners might overwhelm government personnel already handling COVID-19 tests of thousands of returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

“Alam ninyo po sa OFWs alone eh halos hindi na tayo magkanda-ugaga dahil lahat po ng mga umuuwi ay binibigyan natin ng PCR tests. So magkakaroon pa tayo ng mas malaking problema kung pati mga dayuhan ay [papapasukin] natin. So, ngayon po wala pang problema,” Roque said.

At present, only Filipinos, their spouse and children, accredited foreign government and international organization officials, as well as foreign airline crew were allowed to enter the country, according to the Bureau of Immigration.

Foreign nationals may leave the Philippines anytime, while only overseas Filipino workers, permanent residents, or holders of student visas in their country of destination may be allowed to depart. — DVM, GMA News