MANILA, Philippines – The Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Friday reminded Filipinos that non-essential travel overseas is prohibited anew following the government’s decision to re-impose the outbound travel restriction.
In a statement, the bureau said it is re-implementing the ban on overseas travel and that immigration personnel in international ports in the country have already been instructed to impose the restriction as ordered by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases.
“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.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque on Thursday said the task force decided to reinstate the ban because only one company agreed to provide travel and health insurance coverage in relation to the coronavirus pandemic.
It can be recalled that the task force lifted the restriction on non-essential foreign travel last July 6 subject to conditions, including having a travel and health insurance to cover rebooking, accommodation if they got stranded or their trip got delayed, and hospitalization expenses in case they contracted the viral respiratory disease.
The bureau, however, said it will still continue to allow the departure of foreigners and Filipinos who are overseas workers, holders of study visas, and permanent residents in their country of destination.
BI Port Operations Acting Chief Grifton Medina said essential travel will be permitted to those who are going abroad for medical and humanitarian reasons, and for business and work-related purposes.
He said outbound Filipino travelers must present to immigration officers documents and other proof about the purpose of their travel in order to prove that their trip is really essential.
“However, passengers with bookings until July 20 would still be allowed to leave for non-essential trips abroad,” he added.
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