Filipinos tourists could soon be allowed to travel abroad with the new resolution issued by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF).
In an online press briefing on Tuesday, Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the IATF issued its Resolution No. 52, series of 2020, lifting the suspension for non-essential outbound travel of Filipinos.
He said among those that will now be allowed to go abroad are tourists, “subject to the conditions set by the IATF.”
For those traveling on tourist visas, they are required to submit their confirmed round-trip tickets to concerned authorities.
They should also have adequate travel and health insurance, which will be determined by the Department of Tourism, to cover rebooking and accommodation expenses if stranded, and hospitalization in case of infection
The said travelers will also be limited to going to countries where Filipinos are allowed entry.
Before their departure, they will also be required to execute a declaration acknowledging the risks involved in traveling, including the risk of delay in their return trips.
IATF said “all of the foregoing is without prejudice to the exercise of the mandate of the Bureau of Immigration prior to departure.”
“Once they return to the Philippines, they should follow the guidelines for returning overseas Filipino of the National Task Force. This includes the getting the PCR (polymerase chain reaction testing) and quarantine while waiting for their PCR test [results],” Roque said.
Prior to the issuance of IATF Resolution 52, only “essential” overseas travel like those involving work were allowed by the government as because of the novel coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic.
Image credits: DFA-PHL
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