Foreign tourists are still barred from entering the country unless their request for exemption will be granted by the government, Malacañang said Friday.
Even as the government has eased the travel restrictions on some foreign nationals, Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the entry of visitors will be still decided on a case-by-case basis.
"Sa aking pagkakaalam hindi pa rin po pinapayagan ang mga turista, bagamat case-to-case basis puwede silang kumuha ng exemption (To my knowledge, tourists are still not allowed to enter although they can apply for an exemption on a case-to-case basis)," Roque said over state television Friday, Feb. 19.
"Pero sa ngayon ang pinapayagan lang lahat ng mga visas ng mga namumuhunan, ng mga nagtatrabaho, mga kamagnak ng mga Pilipino, yung me mga asawa na mga Pilipino at me mga anak, halos lahat ng dayuhan except ang mga turista (But for now, those allowed entry are all those with investors’ visa, work visa, relatives of Filipinos, their spouse and children. Almost all foreigners are allowed entry except for tourists)," he added.
To the "Love is not tourism" movement where long-distance bi-national couples separated by travel bans have asked the government to allow them to reunite, Roque appealed for more patience.
"Ang love is tourism kasi is tourist visa pa rin, so antay antay lang tayo mukhang malapit na yan pero hindi pa po ('Love is tourism' still requires a tourist visa. Let's wait a little longer. It seems it will be forthcoming but not yet today)," he said.
"Lahat po ng mga long-term visas na na-issue natin eh pupuwede na pong pumasok, so antayin na lang natin kung kelan papayagan ang mga turista (All the long-term visas we issued can enter the country so let's wait when the tourists will be also be allowed)," he added.
Roque also announced that the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Infectious Diseases (IATF) has issued a new resolution further relaxing the travel rules for foreigners.
The task force previously ruled that foreigners with visas issued as of March 20, 2020 were allowed to travel to the country.
Under the latest IATF Resolution No. 100, Roque said such a “reckoning period of March 20, 2020” has been deleted.
The resolution now reads foreigners "with valid and existing visas at the time of entry" may enter the Philippines. Holders of valid and existing special resident and retirees visa and Section 9 (A) visas may also enter provided they present an entry exemption document to the Bureau of Immigration upon arrival.
Under the government’s guidelines to curb the coronavirus outbreak, inbound passengers must have pre-booked accommodation for at least six nights in an accredited quarantine hotel or facility. They must also a coronavirus test six days after their arrival.
The entry of travelers would also be subject to the maximum capacity of inbound passengers at the port and date of entry.