Philippines allows entry of more foreigners with valid visas

More foreigners with valid visas will be allowed to enter the Philippines starting February 16, Malacañang announced on Friday.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the government’s COVID-19 task force on Thursday decided to relax travel restrictions on foreigners with visas issued as of March 20, 2020 and are still valid at the time of entry.

“Tourists not allowed still unless with exemption,” Roque said.

"[The government will decide on exemptions on a] case-to-case [basis] but [there should be an] endorsement from [the] individual departments, for example, the DOE (Department of Energy) for energy-related concerns."

Arriving foreign nationals should have a pre-booked accommodation for at least six nights in an accredited quarantine hotel or facility and be subject to COVID-19 testing at the quarantine hotel or facility on the sixth day from the date of their arrival, he added.

The Palace official also said the entry of foreign nationals will be subject to the maximum capacity of inbound passengers at the port and date of entry.

Earlier, the government said among those allowed to enter the country were the foreign parent of minor Filipinos, and foreign parent of Filipino children with special needs, accredited foreign government and international organization officials, foreign airline crew, foreigners with long-term and investor visas and those for medical and emergency cases, including their medical escorts.

Holders of valid and existing Special Resident Retiree's Visa and Section 9(A) visas will also be permitted to enter the Philippines “as long as they present an entry exemption document to the Bureau of Immigration upon arrival,” Roque said.

“This expanded list, however, is without prejudice to existing immigration laws, rules and regulations,” he said. 

“The Commissioner of Immigration has the exclusive prerogative to decide on waiver or recall of exclusion orders for all foreign nationals allowed to enter the country under relevant IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases) resolutions.” —KBK, GMA News