18/07/2020
For the information of everybody ..
DATELINE USA, TRAVELJULY 16, 2020
Filipino US passport holders, foreigners temporarily barred from entering PH
by JOSEPH PERALTA
FILIPINOS who have become naturalized citizens of other countries and are not dual citizens, as well as foreign nationals, are temporarily barred from entering the Philippines as the coronavirus pandemic surges on.
This was confirmed to the Asian Journal by the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco (PCGSF) as advisories on the internet began popping up, warning Filipino Americans with impending travel plans to the Philippines to double-check with the airlines and authorities lest they get turned away at the airport when trying to board their flights.
According to Consul Raquel Bago-Llona, pursuant to the Immigration Memorandum Circular No. JHM-2020-004 issued by the Bureau of Immigration on July 7, 2020, all foreign nationals (subject to exemptions) are restricted from traveling to the Philippines.
However, Filipino Americans who are dual citizens would be allowed to board even if they are carrying U.S. passports provided they have the necessary original documents for Dual Citizenship (Identification Certificate, Oath of Allegiance and Order of Approval). The spouse and children accompanying the dual citizen will also be allowed entry into the Philippines.
Per Consul Bago-Llona, only accredited foreign government and international organization officials and their dependents, foreign spouses and children of Filipino nationals and foreign airline crew are the categories of foreign nationals allowed in the country.
Consul Bago-Llona added that Philippine Airlines (PAL) is aware of these travel restrictions, and that airlines are advised to exercise extra prudence in marketing services and keep in mind the existing restrictions imposed by the government so that passengers can be spared needless inconvenience.
In a text message sent to a community advocate Lorna Dietz, Consul General Henry Bensurto, Jr. said this is only temporary, and is part of the efforts by the government to limit the entry of people into the country to reduce COVID-19 infection.
Dell Merano, area manager of PAL in the Bay Area, told the Asian Journal that there have been limited instances when passengers were not allowed to board their flights in San Francisco International Airport (SFO) because they are U.S. passport holders, but that the Philippine Consulate in San Francisco expedited these passengers’ dual citizenship applications upon being advised by PAL. The passengers were able to board the next available flight to the Philippines when they presented their documents.
“Majority of our passengers have been able to board their flights to the Philippines,” Merano said. “Based on our experience, passengers who have had problems come from the interior of the U.S. who use domestic flights coming from their cities to connect with their international flights. These are very minimal in number.”
Merano revealed that they do advise their passengers on the current travel restrictions/regulations to the Philippines and have posted a reminder for passengers to check the Philippine government and provincial websites. She encourages Filipinos who became naturalized citizens of other countries to apply for dual citizenship in order to prevent unnecessary complications when traveling to the Philippines, as this pandemic has shown.
Filipino Americans, who are not dual citizens and foreigners but are traveling to the Philippines, are advised to call the Philippine consulate in their area and check with airline representatives for any requirements needed to gain entry to the Philippines if they fall in exempted categories.
[In the Bay Area, visit www.philippinessanfrancisco.org or call (415) 433-6666 for the Philippine Consulate General. PCGSF is located at 447 Sutter Street, 6th Floor, in San Francisco.]
The Philippines, in southeastern Asia, consists of 7,107 islands lying between the South China Sea and the Pacific Ocean. Its unique location has made the Philippines…
