Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 2) — A technical working group has looked into the possibility of reopening the country to foreign nationals but decided against it amid the continued threat of COVID-19, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said Thursday.
“Ang desisyon po ay ‘wag munang papasukin ang mga dayuhan bagamat bumuo ng technical working group para tingan kung talagang merong urgency na papasukin lalong lalo na po ‘yung mga dayuhan sa Build, Build, Build,” Roque said in an online Palace briefing.
[Translation: The decision is to not allow the entry of foreigners yet although a technical working group was created to find out if there’s urgency to welcome foreigners, especially those involved in Build, Build, Build projects.]
This means foreign nationals are still prohibited from entering the country, except for diplomats and foreign spouses of Filipinos.
Roque said last week that the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, the policy-making body in the government’s COVID-19 response, was considering the possibility of allowing the entry of some foreigners who want to work here or stay as permanent residents – upon the request of some foreign embassies.
Several Southeast Asian leaders also supported the reopening of the region to business travelers during the 36th ASEAN Summit, Roque earlier said.
No commercial international flights have been allowed since mid-March, when President Rodrigo Duterte placed the entire Luzon under enhanced community quarantine.
However, chartered flights have been arranged to bring home overseas Filipino workers displaced from their jobs abroad.
Much of the country is now under more relaxed quarantine measures as authorities opt for localized lockdowns in areas with surge in infections.
