Entry exemption documents for foreign kin of Filipino citizens nixed

FILE PHOTO: Immigration officers man their post at the Naia Terminal 1. INQUIRER / LYN RILLON

MANILA, Philippines — Foreign spouses, parents, and children of Filipino citizens no longer need to get an entry exemption document to enter the Philippines starting August 1, Malacañang said Friday.

As long as they have valid 9(a) visas, they would be allowed to enter the country, said presidential spokesman Harry Roque.

Foreigners are currently barred from entering the country in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Only returning Filipinos and foreigners given entry exemption documents are allowed to enter the country.

READ: BI: Foreigners with DFA-issued travel exemption docs can now enter PH

Roque said all inbound international travelers in all ports of entry in the country must comply with testing and quarantine protocols approved by the government’s pandemic task force to prevent the entry of COVID-19 variants to the country.

The Bureau of Quarantine should identify the close contacts in the plane or vessel of confirmed COVID-19 cases and closely monitor them, he added.

Local government units (LGUs) handovers must likewise include clear transportation arrangements and quarantine accommodations. LGUs should also closely monitor for symptoms of the disease while travelers are under quarantine. Immediate testing must be done once symptoms appear, Roque said.

The IATF also asked establishments to consider developing and converting more outdoor spaces into temporary outdoor weekend markets and dining spaces and permanently accessible urban green spaces, outdoor recreational spaces, and public sanitation facilities.

These rules were emphasized and initiated by the IATF amid dangers posed by the COVID-19 Delta variant in the country.

The health department confirmed Thursday night the local transmission of the highly contagious coronavirus variant that was first detected in India.

KGA