Palace: Foreign nat’ls outside the country no longer allowed entry; diplomats, members of int’l orgs exempted

Cabinet secretary Karlo Nograles reads the amendments to an earlier resolution of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases on Sunday, March 22, 2020. (Screenshot from RTCM video/Courtesy RTVM)

 

(Eagle News) – Foreign nationals will no longer be allowed to enter the country while the enhanced community quarantine is enforced to prevent the further spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), Malacanang said Sunday night, March 22.

The order took effect on Sunday, March 22, as the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases approved the earlier Department of Foreign Affairs directive on the suspension of all visas and visa-free privileges to foreign nationals.

Exempted from the visa suspension are foreign nationals who are already in the country, and diplomats and their families, as well as the members of accredited international organizations such as the United Nations, the World Health Organization (WHO) and Asian Dev’t Bank.

In a virtual press briefing of “Laging Handa” with Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Brigido Dulay Jr., said that visas already issued for foreign nationals who are still outside of the country are deemed cancelled, and no foreign national will be allowed to enter the country.

Visa-free privileges for foreign nationals are also cancelled

The order took effect immediately, Nograles said.

“Lilinawin po namin, simula po sa araw na ito (March 22), yun pong mga turista o mga dayuhang nasa labas pa po ng bansa ay hindi na po maaaring pumasok sapagkat sila po ay hindi na po bibigyan ng visa,” Dulay said on Sunday night, March 22 in a televised virtual presser.

“Para naman po sa mga dayuhan na nasa labas pa rin po ng bansa at may hinahawakan na pong visa, hindi rin po sila papayagang makapasok ng bansa hanggang hindi po natatapos ang enhanced community quarantine,” he explained.

Dulay said that there are only two exemptions here: foreign diplomats and those who are members of recognized international organizations, and their spouses and children.

He said that these exemptions were already relayed to the diplomatic missions in the country.  The DFA had earlier made the announcement on visa suspensions for foreign nationals in an earlier advisory.

-FIlipinos from abroad can return to the country- DFA

The DFA also stressed that all Filipinos wherever in the world they may be are allowed to return to the country amid this crisis.

Yun naman pong mga Pilipino na kahit sa anumang parte ng (mundo) ngayon, ay puedeng umuwi ng ating bansa,” Dulay said.

At the end of the briefing, Nograles appealed for patience and calm amid the “unprecedented crisis” that is happening all over the world.

He again asked the Filipino public to remain in their homes to prevent the further spread of the coronavirus disease.
He said that the priority at these times is to “save each other’s lives.”

(Eagle News Service)