MANILA – The Malacañang has allowed more foreign nationals to enter the country starting Feb. 16 provided they have valid visas.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said foreigners with visas issued as of March 20, 2020 and those who have valid and existing visas at the time of entry are allowed by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases to enter the country.
Roque added that foreign nationals with valid and existing Special Resident and Retirees Visa and Section 9 (a) or temporary visa can also go to the country as long as they present an entry exemption document to the Bureau of Immigration upon arrival.
The Palace spokesperson, however, reminded foreigners who wish to visit the country to have pre-booked accommodation for at least six nights in an accredited quarantine hotel or facility.
He said they must undergo a reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test six days after their arrival and subject to the “maximum capacity of inbound passengers at the port and date of entry.”
“This expanded list without prejudice to existing immigration laws, rules and regulations,” Roque stated.
In his separate statement, he clarified that foreign tourists are still prohibited from visiting the country unless they are covered “with exemptions” and those exemptions should have “endorsement from individual departments” of the government./PN
