PH allows Filipinos to travel to South Korea, except to virus-hit province
Credit to Author: The Manila Times| Date: Tue, 03 Mar 2020 10:40:35 +0000
THE Philippine government has allowed Filipino tourists to travel again to South Korea, except in North Gyeongsang province, the epicenter of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (Covid-19) outbreak, Malacañang announced on Tuesday.
Palace spokesman Salvador Panelo said the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) reached the decision during a meeting on the same day to further discuss the circumstances occasioned by the Covid-19.
“The IATF has approved to allow Filipinos to travel to South Korea except to the whole of North Gyeongsang Province, including Daegu City and Cheongdo County, where the virus outbreak is concentrated,” Panelo said in a statement.
“All Filipinos who intend to visit other parts of South Korea shall execute and sign a declaration, signifying their knowledge and understanding of the risks involved in their trip. A health advisory pamphlet shall likewise be handed out to them upon their departure,” he added.
However, Panelo said the ban on the entry of foreign nationals travelling from North Gyeongsang Province, including Daegu City and Cheongdo County, into Philippine territory “remains effective.”
“Guided by the Health Security Risk Assessment Matrix, which evaluates the hazard, exposure and context relative to the risks involved, the IATF has also agreed that there are to be no new imposition of travel restrictions or lifting of the same as regards other countries or jurisdictions,” Panelo said.
“The IATF assures that the review concerning travel restrictions and protocols to and from the Philippines shall be regularly conducted by it,” he added.
Meanwhile, Panelo said the Department of Foreign Affairs was now preparing for the repatriation of 148 Filipinos from Macau via chartered flight.
He also said the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration was arranging to repatriate 48 of its active members therefrom via one commercial flight.
“The IATF, composed of its member agencies, is on top of the situation apropos the Covid-19 and the Office of the President recognizes its concrete efforts in battling the said virus as we aim to protect the safety and health of our people,” Panelo said.
The Philippine government earlier imposed a temporary ban on Filipino tourists going to South Korea as a protective measure against the Covid-19.
South Korea is the country’s top tourist market with 1.98 million arrivals solely in 2019, followed by China with 1.74 million, according to data from Tourism department.
As of Tuesday, South Korea confirmed 477 new cases, with two more deaths, taking the toll to 28, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Of the 4,812 cases nationwide, nearly 90 percent were in Daegu and the neighbouring province of North Gyeongsang, it added. CATHERINE S. VALENTE