Latest from the BI Facebook page...

[graham59]

17 October 2021

PRESS RELEASE

 

BI clarifies entry of alien tourists not yet allowed in PH

 

MANILA, Philippines - The Bureau of Immigration (BI) clarified that foreign tourists are not yet allowed to enter the Philippines despite coming from green list countries.

In a statement, BI Commissioner Jaime Morente reiterated that only Filipinos, balikbayan, and those with valid and existing long term visas from green and yellow list countries are allowed to enter.

He said the reiteration came as the Bureau received numerous queries from foreign tourists who wish to fly to the Philippines already.

Morente added that Filipinos coming from red list countries may return via repatriation flights and bayanihan flights organized by government or non-government agencies.

 

On Friday, the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID) released an updated list of Red, Green and Yellow List counries.

Said lists are effective starting October 16, 2021 up to October 31, 2021.

Romania has been classified under Red List, while 49 countries have been placed under the green list.

 

Included in the Green List are Algeria, American Samoa, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cayman Islands, Chad, China (Mainland), Comoros, Republic of the Congo, Cook Islands, Eritrea, Falkland Islands (Malvinas), Gibraltar, Hong Kong (Special Administrative Region of China), Kiribati, Madagascar, Mali, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Montserrat, Nauru, New Zealand, Nicaragua, -----------, Niue, North Korea, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Poland, Saba (Special Municipality of the Kingdom of the Netherlands), Saint Helena, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Samoa, Sierra Leone, Sint Eustatius, Solomon Islands, Sudan, Syria, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Tokelau, Tonga, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu and Yemen.

 

The IATF-MEID said that all other countries not mentioned are classified under the Yellow List.

The testing and quarantine protocols of those arriving under these lists, according to the IATF-MEID, shall be implemented and monitored by the Bureau of Quarantine.

"Despite these travel restrictions, we remain hopeful that international travel will be safely revived soon," said Morente.

https://www.facebook.com/officialbureauofimmigration/posts/237339875100459

 

Marvellous.  

Edited October 17, 2021 by Jollygoodfellow
Added link to post at Facebook

[Jollygoodfellow]

How many times do they have to keep telling people that they will announce when Tourist are allowed or I should say when the IATF tells them.

[scott h]

5 hours ago, Jollygoodfellow said:

How many times

Every time they make any type of adjustment. Sadly it is human nature to read (an hear) only what they want to read and to think "but, there must be some type of exemption THIS TIME for ME!"

 

[Gator]

8 hours ago, Jollygoodfellow said:

How many times do they have to keep telling people that they will announce when Tourist are allowed or I should say when the IATF tells them.

I wonder how many dumbasses book a flight only to be turned around when they try to check in for it or are actually allowed to fly there and get denied entry by the  BOI. 

[graham59]

Here's the BI Facebook page post today:

.

08 November 2021

PRESS RELEASE

BI ready for PH’s reopening to international tourists

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) assured that it is ready for the eventual reopening of the country’s borders to foreign tourists amid the continuing decline in the number of Covid-19 cases in the country.

“Our frontline officers at the airports are ready and prepared, and we assure the traveling public of uninterrupted service should they decide to travel to the Philippines,” BI Commissioner Jaime Morente said in a statement.

Morente said that while the current manpower of the BI would need to be increased should international travel resume to normal, as in the past, the Bureau has put in place a response plan to address manpower needs.

Atty. Carlos Capulong, BI Acting Port Operations Chief, disclosed that the recently adopted rapid response mechanism calls for the mobilization of BI personnel assigned to the other operating units of his division to perform primary inspection, and supervisory duties during times of heavy influx of passengers.

He also bared that the Bureau is eagerly awaiting the appointments from the Department of Justice of the much-needed 195 new immigration officers who will be hired and later deployed in and outside of Metro Manila.

The BI issued the statement after Press Secretary Harry Roque said during a press briefing that the Philippines will reopen to international tourists in due time.

Roque said that while Metro Manila's shift to Alert Level 2 from Alert 3 is very encouraging, the government will first have to observe the experience of other countries that have already reopened to foreign tourists.

He also bared that government is studying calls to expand its "green list" of territories whose travelers are no longer required to undergo facility-based quarantine upon their arrival.

"Should the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID) and the Office of the President see that the country is ready, we will be happy to welcome again foreign tourists to our shores," said Morente.

The BI earlier reported a 72% drop in international arrivals during the first three quarters of 2021 as compared to the same period last year.

[manofthecoldland]

5 minutes ago, graham59 said:

The BI earlier reported a 72% drop in international arrivals during the first three quarters of 2021 as compared to the same period last year.

What sort of statistical hocus pocus is going on here. I would think that a straight quarter by quarter comparison would be more honest, considering when they shut down the arrivals.

[Snowy79]

I'd be concerned that once they open up anyone that has exceeded their 36 months may no longer get extensions. This could force a quick visa run.

I can see the visa run turning into a nightmare. Arrive somewhere and go into quarantine for two weeks then by the time you get your flight back to the Philippines the rules will have changed again. 

[Freebie]

I have a great deal of sympathy for those who are approaching the 36 month deadline and cant get a straight answer to if they can renew or how much it costs. Very fortunate to have got the SRRV a few years back.

And yes we know that they will be changing the rules day by day.

Update the green list... yes maybe they could add some "normal " countries with no disrespect to Sierre Leone and Burkino Faso and Yemen and that great Covid free nation, North Korea lol

[Shol]

2 hours ago, manofthecoldland said:

What sort of statistical hocus pocus is going on here. I would think that a straight quarter by quarter comparison would be more honest, considering when they shut down the arrivals.

Normal with this administration to cite nonsense without context to try and paint a narrative they desire.

[scott h]

2 hours ago, graham59 said:

Roque said, the government will first have to observe the experience of other countries

Horse Manure,,,,why are we still wearing face shields