DOT‘s Frasco: Philippines to continue opening up travel, tourism

The Philippines will continue to open up to travel and tourism, Department of Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco said on Tuesday.

At a Palace press briefing, Frasco was asked if travel restrictions will be heightened following the detection of over 12,000 COVID-19 infections from May 8 to May 14, 2023.

Frasco said the country would continue to move forward despite the increase in COVID-19 cases.

"Tapos na po 'yung pandemiya sabi po yan ng WHO, kaya naman po [The pandemic is over according to the WHO, that's why] while we continue to support the Department of Health’s measure as well as ensuring the health and safety of our fellow Filipinos, the direction for the Philippines is forward and that is to ensure that we continue to open up the country to travel and tourism as is the direction set by our President," Frasco said.

She, however, said minimum health standards are being enforced to avoid the rise of coronavirus cases.

"Of course all the minimum health and safety standards are in place and this is also made sure of as far as compliance with our DOT accredited establishments," Frasco said.

Early this month, the World Health Organization said COVID-19 no longer represents a global health emergency.

The WHO's Emergency Committee met and recommended the UN-agency declare an end to the public health emergency of international concern, which has been in place for over three years.

Despite this, DOH officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire has called on the  public not to be complacent as the pandemic is still not over. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News