THE Bureau of Immigration (BI) announced it would be implementing the lifting of travel restriction previously imposed on 10 countries starting September 6.
At the same time, Immigration Commissioner Jaime H. Morente said the agency would be adopting the color-coding classification for international travelers as mandated by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF).
In the said classifications, international travelers coming from countries under each listing are required to comply with the appropriate entry, testing and quarantine protocols.
âThe IATF approved the adoption of Yellow and Red classifications, in addition to the Green List countries,â Morente said. âFollowing these categories, we will be implementing the appropriate entry protocols.â
The classifications, according to the IATF, are based on each countryâs incidence rates and case counts as primary criteria and testing data as secondary criteria.
The IATF classified âYellow-Listâ countries as âModerate Risk.â
On the other hand, the IATF classified âRed-Listâ countries as âHigh Risk.â
Morente explained that inbound international travelers, regardless of their vaccination status, coming from or with travel history within the last 14 days prior to their arrival in the Philippines from âYellowâ and âGreenâ countries may be allowed to enter if within the allowable classes, and subject to testing and quarantine protocols to be implemented by the Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ).
Inbound international travelers, regardless of their vaccination status, coming from or who have been to âRed Listâ countries, shall not be allowed to enter the Philippines.
At the moment, only Filipinos, balikbayans and aliens with valid and existing visas are allowed to enter the country. Tourists are still prohibited from entering the country.
âOnly Filipinos returning to the country via government-initiated repatriation, non-government-initiated repatriation and âBayanihanâ flights may be allowed entry, subject to the appropriate testing and quarantine protocols as set by the BOQ,â Morente said.
BI Spokesman Dana Krizia M. Sandoval said the BI has yet to receive the list of travellers to be classified under the âYellowâ and âRedâ category.
âThe classifications take effect on September 6. As of now, we have received the updated list of those under the green classification,â Sandoval said. âWe are on standby for advice from the IATF on which countries are included in the âYellowâ and âRedâ classifications.â
The IATF earlier issued a resolution lifting the travel restriction on 10 countries namely India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia shall be lifted starting Monday.