Palace: Safe to admit travelers from ‘green-list’ countries

MANILA, Philippines — Malacanang on Thursday allayed fears that relaxing the testing and quarantine protocols for returning Filipinos and inbound foreign travelers might not yet be advisable with the vaccination coverage in the country remaining low.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the relaxed protocols were only applicable for vaccinated travelers from the 49 countries and territories under the government’s “green list,” which include North Korea, Yemen, Syria, Madagascar, Sudan, Mali, Bhutan, the Falklands, and small South Pacific and Caribbean islands. Roque said the green list would be updated by October 16.

All other countries and territories not in the green list are in the “yellow list” with the exception of Bermuda, the only place under the “red list.” —JEROME ANING