Tighter PH border controls to stay as threat of ‘double mutant’ virus variant persists

FILE PHOTO: Empty passenger lanes at Ninoy Aquino International Airport’s Terminal 3. (Photo by LYN RILLON / Philippine Daily Inquirer)

MANILA, Philippines — Stricter controls on Philippine borders will be maintained as the threat of the “double mutant” variant of SARS-CoV-2 discovered in India continues.

According to Malacañang, foreign leisure travel will remain prohibited and only foreigners with investors’ visas will be allowed to enter the country.

“Tingin ko kahit anong classification ang irekomenda ng IATF, hindi pa po tayo magbubukas ng ating borders. Bawal pa rin ang turismo at tanging ilang mga dayuhan lamang na mayroong investors visa ang papayagang pumasok,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said during Monday’s briefing.

(I think whatever the quarantine classification the IATF will recommend, we will not open our borders. Tourism remains prohibited and foreigners with investors’ visa will be allowed to enter.)

“Hindi magbabago ‘yan. Our borders will remain closed lalung-lalo na  doon sa mga bansa gaya ng India, Pakistan, na kailan lang ay nag-impose ng ‘absolutely no entry policy’,” he added.

(That will not change. Our borders will remain closed especially to countries like India and Pakistan, on which, just recently, an ‘absolutely no entry policy’ was imposed.)

The Philippines is barring the entry of travelers from India until May 14 amid the resurgence of COVID-19 cases in the South Asian nation due to the so-called double mutant variant of the new coronavirus.

Eventually, the Philippine government expanded its travel restrictions to Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh.

KGA