Palace says travel curb vs Indonesia ‘not too late’
MANILA, Philippines — The imposition of travel restrictions on inbound travelers from Indonesia amid the surge of COVID-19 cases in the neighboring country is “not too late” because the entry of travelers has since been limited, Malacañang said Thursday.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said only 724 travelers, mostly returning overseas Filipinos, have arrived in Indonesia since April.
All of them underwent strict 10-day facility-based quarantine upon arrival, Roque added.
“Hindi naman too late ‘yan. Wala tayong turismo, wala rin tayong business visas except for the long-term investors’ visa na in-issue natin. Hindi naman too late kasi limitado din talaga yung mga pumasok galing Indonesia,” he said in a Palace briefing.
(That is not too late. We don’t have tourism, we don’t have business visas except for the long-term investors visa. That is not too late because there is a limited entry of travelers from Indonesia.)
He also pointed out that the Philippines has a travel ban “in general” because only Filipinos are allowed to enter the country. Foreigners who were allowed entry were only those bearing long-term investors visa or long-term residence visas, he added.
The Philippines is set to impose travel restrictions on travelers from Indonesia or those with travel history from the Southeast Asian country within the last 14 days upon arrival from July 16-31.
On Wednesday, Indonesia reported 54,517 new cases of COVID-19, which is a single-day national record.
KGA
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