Inanunsiyo ng Bureau of Immigration (BI) ana ang mga “balikbayans” ay bibigyan ng visa-free entry simula December 7, 2020.

Kahit nasa gitna ng coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic ang bansa, papayagang makauwi ng Pilipinas ang ilang immediate family members ng mga Pilipino at mga Pinoy abroad simula ika-7 ng Disyembre, ayon sa napagkaisahan ng Inter Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases.

"Also permitted is the entry of former Filipino citizens, including their spouses and children, regardless of age, who are travelling with them."

Balikbayans are former Filipinos and spouse and children of Filipinos or former Filipinos who are allowed visa-free entry under Executive Order No. 408.

Ang pagpasok nila ay sasaklawin ng ilang kondisyon lalo na't pinapayagan silang magkaroon ng "visa-free entry" sa ilalim ng Executive Order 408 series of1960.

Ito ang kinumpirma ni presidential spokesperson Harry Roque sa mga reporters, Biyernes.

Pinayagan na ng Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of the Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) ang pagpasok sa bansa ng foreign spouses at anak ng mga Pilipino, simula sa December 7.

Ayon kay Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, pinapayagan na rin ang pagpasok sa bansa ng mga balikbayan, foreign spouses at anak ng mga ito.

Ang pagpasok aniya ng mga ito ay subject sa mga kondisyon, halimbawa ang visa-free entry alinsunod sa Executive Order no. 408, kailangan rin magpre-booked ng quarantine facility at COVID testing sa mga laboratoryo na nago-operate sa mga paliparan.

Sinabi ng kalihim, subject rin ang mga ito sa maximum capacity ng inbound passengers sa pantalan kada araw.

“The entry of these persons will be subject to conditions such as they are allowed visa-free entry under Executive Order No. 408, series of 1960; they are required a pre-booked quarantine facility and a pre-booked COVID-19 testing at a laboratory operating at the airport. They, too, must be subject to the maximum capacity of inbound passengers at the port and date of entry.” —Secretary Roque.

Inatasan naman ang Bureau of Immigration (BI), na bumuo ng kinakailangang guidelines upang matiyak ang maayos na implementasyon ng polisiyang ito.

Habang ang Department of Tourism (DOT) naman, ay inaatasang magbaba ng kinakailangang guidelines upang matiyak na sapat ang accommodation ng mga ito, habang inaantay ang resulta ng kanilang COVID test.

“The Department of Tourism, on the other hand, is likewise directed to issue the necessary guidelines for the provision of sufficient accommodation for the abovementioned persons taking into account the release of their COVID-19 test results.” —Secretary Roque.

"The [IATF-EID] on Thursday, November 26, allowed the entry to the Philippines of Filipino citizens’ foreign spouses and children, regardless of age, who are traveling with them, starting December 7, 2020," ayon kay Roque.

Kasama sa mga dapat nilang tiyakin ay ang pag-pre-book ng quarantine facilities at pag-pre-book ng COVID-19 testing sa isang laboratoryo na pinatatakbo sa paliparan.

"They, too, must be subject to the maximum capacity of inbound passengers at the port and date of entry. The IATF directed the Bureau of Immigration to formulate the necessary guidelines to ensure the smooth implementation of this policy," patuloy ni Roque.

Inuutusan naman ngayon ang Department of Tourism (DOT) na maglabas ng mga kaukulang guidelines para sa provision ng sapat na accomodation ng mga sumusunod na tao depende sa kalalabasan ng kanilang mga COVID-19 test results.

Pagsasama-sama ngayong Pasko

Ikinatuwa naman ng DOT ang naturang desisyon ng IATF na payagan nang makabalik ang mga balikbayan.

"This not only bodes well for our ailing industry but is good tidings for our kababayans who have been clamoring to be reunited with their loved ones from abroad, especially this yuletide season," ayon kay Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat.

"Balikbayans are considered as a viable source market of the country for tourism, particularly extending to the second and third generation dependents who have yet to discover their parents’ roots. The Filipino diaspora to date, has reached about 10 million."

Aniya, tinitignan ng DOT ang mga Filipino communities abroad bilang partners sa turismo ng Pilipinas, bagay na lubhang naapektuhan ng COVID-19 pandemic.

Sa huling taya ng Department of Health nitong Huwebes, umabot na sa 424,297 ang tinatamaan ng COVID-19 sa Pilipinas. Sa bilang na 'yan, 8,242 na ang namamatay.

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