THE government is taking on the second stage of easing restrictions in the entry of people coming from other countries as Malacañang announced that starting December 7, foreign spouses of Filipinos and their children traveling with them will be allowed to enter.
Aside from the foreign spouses of Filipinos and their children, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque likewise announced entry clearance to former Filipino citizens, including their spouses and children traveling with them.
Citing the decision of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF), Roque said that children will be allowed to enter the Philippines regardless of age.
However, their entry into the country will be subject to conditions such as a pre-booked quarantine facility and 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,” Roque pointed out, adding these individuals will be exempted from the visa requirement.
Moreover, he said that the IATF has directed the Bureau of Immigration and Department of Tourism to craft the necessary guidelines.
“The foregoing is without prejudice to immigration laws, rules and regulations such that the Commissioner of Immigration shall have the exclusive prerogative to decide on waiver or recall of exclusion orders for the above foreign nationals, including other foreign nationals who have entered the Philippines by virtue of Inter-Agency Task Force resolutions,” the IATF said.
Three months ago, the government allowed entry of foreign children with special needs of Filipinos, foreign parents of minor Filipinos, and foreign parents of Filipino children with special needs.
Accredited foreign government and international organization officials and their dependents, foreign airline crew members, foreign seafarers with appropriate visas, foreigners with long-term and investor visas are also allowed.