By JUN RAMIREZ
The Bureau of Immigration said yesterday that the travel restrictions set in place during the enhanced community quarantine shall remain during its extension.
BI Commissioner Jaime Morente made the clarification after President Duterte extended the ECQ in several “high-risk” areas until May 15.
Other areas not mentioned in the President’s order shall be under the new general community quarantine measure.
The BI chief stressed that travel restrictions remain and the entry of foreign nationals is still restricted.
Only Filipinos, their foreign spouse and children, accredited foreign government and international organization officials, and foreign airline crew shall remain eligible to enter the Philippines.
On the other hand, only foreign nationals, permanent residents and student visa holders abroad, and Overseas Filipino Workers, shall be allowed to leave the country.
The BI had earlier scaled down its operations after almost all airliners canceled flights following the lockdown due to the COVID pandemic.
“We are on standby to implement any changes in travel restrictions. This is a sacrifice we must take to stop the spread of the disease,” he added.
