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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Lifting of travel ban concerns senators amid spike of COVID-19 cases

Lifting of travel ban concerns senators amid spike of COVID-19 cases

Published Sep 6, 2021 08:17 pm

Senators have raised concern on the government's decision to lift the travel ban despite the surge in COVID-19 cases in the Philippines.

(Jansen Romero/MANILA BULLETIN File Photo)

While daily coronavirus cases increase by the thousands locally -- over 20,000 for four consecutive days so far -- the government allowed the entry of travelers from the India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka Nepal, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia.

But Senate President Vicente Sotto III said the move "should be reconsidered".

"What is the reason? Is there an agenda?" Sotto raised in his text message to reporters on Monday, September 6.

Senator Nancy Binay said she, too, is worried of the latest recommendation by the government's pandemic task force.

"Nakakabahala. May dalang pangamba. Pataas na nga nang pataas ang kaso ng COVID sa Pilipinas, tapos parang okey lang sa IATF na luwagan ang travel restrictions kahit kulang pa tayo sa safety nets, at sablay pa rin ang border control measures natin (This is worrisome. A cause for concern. COVID-19 cases are increasing in the Philippines but it seemed okay for the Interagency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Disease to relax travel restrictions, when we still lack the safety nets, and our border control measures are failing)," Binay, for her part, said.

"The incongruent and discorant policies weaken our barriers against COVID and other more deadly variants, and the biggest chance of the variants entering the country is poor border control," she pointed out.

Senator Risa Hontiveros likewise doubted that the lifting of travel restriction was the right move, noting that the country's health care system is again overwhelmed by the large spike in infections.

"Habang punung-puno ang mga ospital, tama ba namang lifting travel ban pa ang naging priority ng administrasyon? Ginagawa na nila itong laro. Para silang mga batang nagko-close-open ng ating airports (While hospitals are swamped with patients, is it even proper for the administration to prioritize the lifting of travel bans? They are dismissing this as a game. They are like children who are just closing and opening our airports)," Hontiveros said in a separate statement.

Stressing the emergence of new coronavirus variants, the opposition senator appealed to the Bureau of Quarantine and other concerned agencies in government "to ensure the health of our people."

The Philippines previously imposed a travel ban on the 10 countries due to spread of Delta coronavirus cases. Experts have found that the Delta is more contagious than previous coronavirus variants.

In announcing its removal last Saturday, Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the inbound travelers are still subject to testing and quarantine protocols.

Total number of COVID-19 cases in the country have exceeded two million, with deaths totalling to 34,337 as of September 6.

Related Tags

Tito Sotto Risa Hontiveros TRAVEL BAN travel restriction Nancy Binay Philippines IATF
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