(Eagle News)–Senator Kiko Pangilinan on Wednesday, Jan. 29, called on the government to suspend the issuance of all visas from people coming from China, the seat of the novel coronavirus outbreak, as he slammed the government for what he said was the lack of coordination among agencies.
“Visa upon arrival lang ang suspended para sa mga Chinese. Yung tours, delegates, at businessmen, tulad nung cruise ships sa Subic, tuloy-tuloy pa. Dapat lahat,” Pangilinan said.
According to Pangilinan, as of yesterday, January 28, Chinese authorities have air already suspended rail and air travel in the area around Wuhan.
He said the ban has been expanded to 16 cities with a combined population of more than 50 million people.
Aside from China, he said Malaysia has suspended the issuance of visas for Chinese citizens from Wuhan and the areas around Hubei province.
The US State Department, for its part, he said, has issued a travel advisory to “reconsider travel to China due to novel coronavirus.”
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, for its part, has issued warnings Level 3 urging Americans to avoid all nonessential travel to China,and Level 4, encouraging a ban on travel to Hubei province.
Pangilinan saidt there was also unequal treatment for Filipino and Chinese travelers.
He noted the government’s pronouncement returning Filipinos from China would be quarantined.
“But what is the rule for the thousands of Chinese arrivals? Bakit mga turistang Chinese galing China sakay ng cruise ship as per Bureau of Quarantine at Coast Guard, walang quarantine? Dahil ba may pampadulas ang mga bisita kaya labas-pasok sila?” Pangilinan asked.
He slammed the government for what he said was its agencies’ differing positions.
“Bakit kanya-kanyang diskarte ang mga ahensya na salungat sa isa’t-isa? Who is in charge? Meron ba?” he asked.
“DoH at Malacañang, kumilos kayo agad at huwag papasukin ang mga turista galing ng China habang nariyan ang outbreak,” Pangilinan added.