Foreigners with valid visas can travel to the Philippines

January 25, 2021 Seoul

Foreigners bearing valid visas can now travel to the Philippines but are still subjected to strict health and quarantine protocols.

This, after the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) amended its earlier resolution on all foreign travelers covered by travel restrictions imposed due to the new Covid-19 variant.

The IATF-EID, in its Resolution 95, allowed foreigners with valid visas, including personnel of accredited international organizations, and spouse and minor children of Filipino citizens, to visit the Philippines, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a press statement.

“Those who arrive for medical and emergency cases, including their medical escorts, if any, are now subject to applicable testing and quarantine protocols as prescribed by the Department of Health (DOH),” Roque said.

The Department of Foreign Affairs on Jan. 17 warned the public against unscrupulous individuals offering fake travel exemption certificates to foreigners who wish to enter the Philippines.

Strict testing, quarantine rules

Roque said the IATF-EID also amended the testing and quarantine protocols for Filipinos coming from countries included in the travel ban list.

“From the strict observation of an absolute 14-day facility-based quarantine period for Filipino citizens coming from areas where travel restrictions are in place, the IATF amended this to prescribed testing and quarantine protocols.,” he said.

Roque said Filipino citizens arriving for “highly exceptional and/or medical reasons,” as well as local diplomats, are now subject to “applicable quarantine protocols as prescribed by the DOH.”

He added that incoming passengers coming from or transiting through the banned countries shall be tested upon arrival and shall be quarantined until the result of the subsequent test administered on the fifth day is released.

Meanwhile, Roque said the IATF-EID also ratified the National Deployment and Vaccination Plan for Covid-19.

Roque did not elaborate on the ratified plan but said it would serve as a “guide for vaccination implementers,” including the local government units.

Source: http://bit.ly/3qHQ52O