THE Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) has again barred Filipinos from going abroad for non-essential travels, presidential spokesman Harry Roque said yesterday.
Roque said the IATF was prompted to suspend non-essential foreign travels after only one insurance company agreed to adhere to the conditions to cover rebooking, accommodation expenses and hospitalization should a traveler contract the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) while out of the country.
Roque said only travelers with confirmed flight bookings as of July 20 will be allowed to proceed with their scheduled trips.
The IATF, in issuing Resolution 57 on July 21, reiterated that essential outbound travels of Filipinos are subject to two conditions: execution of a Bureau of Immigration declaration acknowledging the risks involved in travelling, including possible delay in the return trip; and a commitment to comply with the guidelines on returning overseas Filipinos.
The government, earlier this month, lifted the more than three-month ban on non-essential travels abroad, including those for leisure, provided that they follow certain conditions such as having a travel and health insurance to cover rebooking and accommodation expenses if their trips are delayed or cancelled and for hospitalization needs, there is no travel ban in the country of destination, and mandatory quarantines and PCR tests are done upon their return to the country, among others.
