BI says travel restrictions stay as enhanced quarantine extended

MANILA, Philippines — Travel restrictions that were imposed for the duration of the enhanced community quarantine will remain in effect, at least for now, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said Friday.

This, as President Rodrigo Duterte extended the strict quarantine for portions of Luzon, including Metro Manila, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, and other provinces deemed “high-risk areas” in the Visayas and Mindanao until  May 15.

Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente said Friday that entry of foreign nationals will still be highly controlled and only Filipinos, their spouses and children, accredited foreign government and international organization officials, and foreign airline crew will remain eligible to enter the country.

“We are on standby to implement any changes in travel restrictions, as deemed necessary by the President upon recommendation by the IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force). This is a sacrifice we must all take in order to ensure that we flatten the curve and prevent the further spread of this virus,” Morente said in a statement.

According to BI official, only foreign nationals, permanent residents, and student visa holders abroad, and overseas Filipino workers will still be allowed to exit the country.

Earlier Friday, Malacañang announced Duterte’s approval to extend the enhanced community quarantine. Initially, the President declared the entire Luzon under strict quarantine until April 13 and then extended it up to April 30, before extending it again until middle of May.

As of Thursday, the number of COVID-19 cases in the country has reached 6,981, including 462 deaths and 722 recoveries.

KGA