President Rodrigo Roa Duterte approved the recommendation of the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) to extend the country’s travel restrictions to 10 countries from Sep. 1 to Sep. 5.
IATF-EID and Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque announced on Tuesday (Aug. 31) the President’s approval of the travel ban extension to India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia.
On Aug. 13, the Philippines had imposed a travel ban to the 10 countries from Aug. 16 to Aug. 31.
Roque said the travel restrictions were extended to prevent the further spread of COVID-19 and slow down the increase in the number of cases.
“These travel restrictions form part of the proactive measures to slow down the rising number of COVID-19 cases, stop the further spread of variants, and increase the country’s existing healthcare capacity,” he said.
READ MORE: Travel restrictions to 10 countries extended until August 31
Report from Mela Lesmoras/NGS- jlo