PH still closed to foreign tourists – Bureau of Immigration

MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Immigration (BI) clarified on Tuesday that the Philippines remained closed to foreign tourists despite encouraging signs that the country might soon reopen its borders.

“Only those under the allowed categories as set by the IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases), if coming from green or yellow countries may be admitted to enter,” Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente said.

The immigration chief issued the statement after the bureau’s offices were swamped with queries whether foreign tourists could now enter the country after Metro Manila was placed on alert level 2 status.

Morente said the decision to reopen would come from the president and the IATF.

—TINA G. SANTOS