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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider BI announces lifting of 72-hour travel period for departing OFWs, balikbayans, foreign nationals

BI announces lifting of 72-hour travel period for departing OFWs, balikbayans, foreign nationals

Published Mar 18, 2020 12:00 am
By Jun Ramirez The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has announced the lifting of the 72-hour travel period for departing overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), balikbayans, and foreign nationals. (MANILA BULLETIN) (MANILA BULLETIN) This followed after Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles told the public in a media briefing last night about modifications to the March 16 memorandum on the Enhanced Community Quarantine over the entire island of Luzon. According to BI Commissioner Jaime Morente, foreign nationals may now leave anytime during the community quarantine period, unless their flights have been cancelled by the airlines or the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB). The BI chief also clarified that balikbayans and OFWs are allowed to depart the country during this period. “There was some confusion with other government agencies yesterday, but we discussed this to them and to the IATF-EID (Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Disease), and we were able to clarify that OFWs are indeed allowed to travel,” he said. Departing Filipino tourists are temporarily not allowed to depart. Morente added that previously-imposed travel restrictions for arriving passengers remain. “Our travel restrictions for foreign nationals arriving from China, Hong Kong, Macau, North Gyeongsang including Daegu and Cheongdo of South Korea, Iran, and Italy still stand,” Morente said. Currently, foreign nationals are not allowed to enter the country if they have a history of travel to China, Hong Kong, Macau, and North Gyeongsang including Daegu and Cheongdo in South Korea within the last 14 days. Exempted are Filipinos, their spouse and children, foreigners with Philippine permanent resident visas, and members of the diplomatic corps. Meanwhile, passengers coming from Iran and Italy, which are severely hit by COVID-19, are required to present a medical certificate issued within the last 48 hours from arrival that they are not afflicted with the disease. READ MORE: Entire Luzon under quarantine
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