MANILA -- The Bureau of Immigration (BI) announced that it is ready to implement the inclusion of France on the country’s red list on December 10.

In a statement, BI Commissioner Jaime Morente shared that following the resolution Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF), passengers coming from France are temporarily barred from entering the Philippines.

Also included in the ban are passengers who have been to France within 14 days preceding arrival in the country.

“As with the other countries included in the ban, Filipinos coming in may return via government or non-government initiated repatriation and bayanihan flights,” said Morente.

According to BI Port Operations Division Chief Atty. Carlos Capulong, the ban will take effect on Friday, until December 15, unless otherwise extended by the IATF.

Currently, the BI is implementing a travel ban from passengers coming from 14 other countries namely South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique, Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, The Netherlands, Switzerland, Belgium, and Italy.

Capulong likewise warned that airlines who board passengers coming from travelrestricted countries may face penalties for violating the Philippine Immigration Act. (BI)