In a televised announcement amid the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines, President Duterte read out a resolution, signed by the Inter-agency task force for the management of an emerging infectious disease.
The resolution states “Land, domestic air, and domestic sea travel to and from Metro Manila shall be suspended after the expiry of forty-eight hours from the issuance of this resolution.”
Aside from the impact to domestic air and sea travel, Filipino citizens will continue to be able to travel internationally, as announced by Duterte, “Entry travel restrictions shall be imposed upon those traveling from countries with localised COVID-19 transmissions, except for Filipino citizens, including their foreign spouse and children, if any, holders of Permanent Resident Visa, and holders of 9(2) Diplomat Visas issued by the Philippine government.”
This resolution takes effect from 12 am 15 March 2020, and was signed by those present from the Inter-agency task force:
This travel ban will last for 30 days until 14 April 2020, and include all countries with the localised transmission of COVID-19.
- Francisco T. Duque III, Secretary, Department of Health
- Eduardo M. Ano, Secretary, Department of Justice
- Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, Secretary, Department of Tourism
- Silvestre H Bello III, Secretary, Department of Labor and Employment
- Brigido J. Dulay, Undersecretary, Department of Foreign Affairs
On 11 March, Durterte had announced a State of Emergency over the virus, as confirmed cases doubled in the country.
As of 12 am, 13 March, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the Philippines was 59, after three more cases were recorded on the evening of 12 March.
