IATF eyes possible lifting of travel curbs on foreigners

MANILA, Philippines — The government is studying appeals to lift travel restrictions on foreign nationals who wish to come to the Philippines amid the pandemic to be with their Filipino partners.

The Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) said it had been receiving letters from Filipinos who are in long-distance relationship with foreigners.

IATF cochair Karlo Nograles said the body was studying the appeals, which Filipinos took to social media through the hashtag #LoveIsNotTourismPH. “Your concerns are being discussed in the IATF.

We have a technical working group studying those concerns,” Nograles said in a Facebook Live video on Saturday. “We’re just waiting for what their recommendations will be.”

—Julie M. Aurelio

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