Immigration reminds Pinoys travel for leisure banned anew

Published July 24, 2020 06:04 PM By NICOLE-ANNE C. LAGRIMAS,GMA News

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Friday reminded Filipinos that overseas travel for leisure and tourism was again prohibited.

The bureau said it ire-implementing the ban on non-essential travel of outbound Filipinos following the government's decision to reimpose it.

"Again, only essential travel of outbound Filipinos will be allowed. Non-essential travel for leisure and tourism purposes will not be permitted," BI Commissioner Jaime Morente said in a statement.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque earlier said the government's COVID-19 task force reinstated the ban

because only one insurance company agreed to provide travel and health insurance in relation to the pandemic.

Overseas Filipino workers, holders of study visas, and permanent residents in their country of destination, as well as foreigners, will still be allowed to leave the country, he said.

According to BI Port Operations Acting Chief Grifton Medina, essential travel is travel for medical, humanitarian, business, and work-related reasons.

He said outbound Filipino travelers must present to immigration officers proof that their trip is essential.

“However, passengers with bookings until July 20 would still be allowed to leave for non-essential trips abroad," Medina said. -NB, GMA News

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