Malacañang Announces Travel Pass For Essential Outbound Travel Aren’t Needed
Filipinos leaving for essential outbound travel do not need to secure a travel pass from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) as announced by Malacañang.
In a statement, Roque told reporters about an August 3 DFA advisory on essential outbound travel. “The DFA informs the public that it does not issue travel permits to outbound Filipino travelers,” the DFA advisory read.
This means, any form of a permit for Filipinos to go abroad is not needed but is only limited to essential outbound travels that involve employment, education, medical, humanitarian, and essential business.
On the other hand, non-essential outbound travel remains suspended because only one travel and health insurance company has agreed to cover rebooking and accommodation expenses if stranded and hospitalization in case of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) infection.
“The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) resolution still applies in the absence of medical insurance,” Roque said.
Last July, the IATF initially lifted the ban on non-essential outbound travel imposed last March, subject to certain conditions.
Non-essential outbound travel was initially allowed as long as passengers submit confirmed round-trip tickets for those traveling on tourist visas, travel and health insurance, proof of allowed entry by the destination country, and a declaration acknowledging the risks involved in traveling.
This is a press release. Minor edits were made prior to publishing.
Source: pna.gov.ph
