Gov't imposes new conditions for foreigners entering Philippines

The Philippine government has imposed more conditions for select foreigners that are allowed entry to the country amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, the Inter-Agency Task Force has adopted Resolution 113, which provides that foreign nationals allowed under previous IATF resolutions can enter the country provided they should have/be: 

• valid and existing visa at the time of entry, except for those qualified under the Balikbayan program;
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• pre-booked accommodation for at least seven nights in an accredited quarantine hotel/facility;
• subject to COVID-19 testing at the quarantine hotel/facility on the sixth (6th) day from date of arrival; and
• subject to the maximum capacity of inbound passengers at the port and date of entry.

Previously, the entry of foreign nationals is only subject to the daily limit of incoming passengers as may be imposed by the Department of Transportation.

Foreigners allowed entry to the Philippines under previous IATF resolutions include:

• diplomats and members of international organizations, and their dependents provided they hold a valid 9(e) visa or 47(a)(2) visa, as the case may be, at the time of entry
• foreign nationals involved in medical repatriation duly endorsed by Department of Foreign Affairs - Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration provided they have a valid visa at the time of entry;
• foreign seafarers under the “Green Lanes” program for crew change provided that they hold a 9(c) crew list visa at the time of entry;
• foreign spouses and children of Filipino citizens travelling with them provided they have valid visas at the time of entry;
• foreign nationals with valid entry exemption documents duly issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs before March 22; and
• emergency, humanitarian, and other analogous cases approved by the Chairperson of the National Task Force Against COVID-19 or his duly authorized representative, provided the foreign nationals have valid visas at the time of entry.

Roque, however, clarified that travelers coming from India -- of Filipino citizenship or otherwise -- will be denied entry until May 14.

“All these are without prejudice to immigrations, rules and regulations.  The Commissioner of Immigration will have the exclusive prerogative to decide on the waiver or recall of exclusion orders of foreign nationals, subject to regular reporting to the IATF Secretariat,” Roque said.

“To ensure smooth implementation [of the resolution], the Bureau of Immigration has been directed to formulate the necessary guidelines,” Roque added.

Last Thursday, the Philippines recorded 69,354 active COVID-19 cases. Of this number, 8,276 were new infections. —LBG/KBK, GMA News