简体中文
By APD writer Melo M. Acuña
MANILA – Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente today announced the temporary suspension of the Visa Upon Arrival (VUA) facility after concerns were aired on the spread of the 2019-nCOV.
The action was prompted by the travel lockdown in several cities in China which shut down public transport facilities in a number of areas in the country’s efforts to contain the virus.
Commissioner Morente said the Civil Aeronautics Board has already suspended flights from Wuhan.
“We are now temporarily suspending the issuance of VUA for Chinese nationals to slow down the influx of group tours,” Morente said in a statement. The VUA scheme is usually availed of by Chinese tour groups visiting the Philippines.
He, however, clarified there is no order to bar Chinese nationals from entering the country as they have not received any directive imposing policy changes on Chinese nationals. He described the action as “proactive measure” to slow down travel and possibly prevent the entry of the 2019-nCOV.
Commissioner Morente said possible policy changes on Chinese nationals would come from the Department of Foreign Affairs or Office of the President based on advice from the Department of Health.
It is the Bureau of Quarantine that conducts screening of incoming passengers at airports and seaports.
The Immigration chief said they are supportive of the Bureau of Quarantine’s efforts to prevent the entry of the sickness into the country. (Melo M. Acuña)
(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)
