PRESIDENT RODRIGO R. Duterte has advised Filipinos to strictly follow the conditions imposed for non-essential travels abroad amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.
Duterte made the remarks in a taped public address aired on state-run PTV-4 early Wednesday after the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) lifted on Monday the suspension of non-essential outbound travel by Filipinos.
“Suspension of non-essential travel by Filipinos is now lifted. All exit travel restrictions are also lifted. Conditions for outbound travel of Filipinos, ‘yung Pilipinong gustong lumabas sa bayan niya, ito lang ang tandaan ninyo (should be remembered by Filipinos who want to go out of the country),” he said.
Under IATF Resolution 52 approved on Monday, Filipinos traveling on tourist visas need to submit confirmed round-trip tickets before they can be allowed to embark on non-essential outbound travel.
Filipino travelers should also submit travel and health insurance to cover rebooking and accommodation expenses if stranded, and hospitalization in case of infection.
They should also show proof of allowed entry by the destination country, in accordance with their travel, health, and quarantine restrictions.
A declaration acknowledging the risks involved in traveling, including the risk of delay in their return trip, should also be executed.
Upon the travelers’ return, guidelines set by the National Task Force against Covid-19 for returning overseas Filipinos, such as testing and mandatory quarantine, should be observed.
Duterte said the conditions must be followed to ensure the safety of Filipino travelers.
“This is not only a mandate dito sa Pilipinas (here in the Philippines),” he said. “This is so because Covid is still rampaging.”
The non-essential outbound travel restrictions on Filipinos were imposed in March to stop the further transmission of Covid-19 in the country.
Covid-19 stays ‘for all time’
Despite the lifting of restrictions on non-essential outbound tourism, Duterte reminded Filipinos not to be complacent because Covid-19 “will remain for all time.”
“Again, just because you are allowing some of the sectors of our society to go out and work, it does not follow that Covid is not here. Covid will remain for all time,” he said.
Duterte reiterated that the Covid-19 pandemic would only end once a vaccine or drug is developed against the new coronavirus.
He also noted the need for Filipinos to continue following the quarantine and health measures implemented by the government.
“All I am asking is that you obey government because government is very much interested that you don’t get sick. Or if you get sick, that you get well and would live to see your children grow, and your grandchildren to love,” Duterte said.
He also ensured that his administration is doing its best to defeat Covid-19.
“If you want us to do more, we will. Tell us what to do. If we cannot do it, we will tell you why we cannot do it. But if we can, gagawin namin (we will do it),” Duterte said. (By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos)
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