PASAY -- Bureau of Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente shared that the implementation of the country’s travel ban on passengers coming from 16 counties has so far been going smoothly.

On Sunday, the Philippines added Portugal in the Red list countries, effectively banning passengers coming from said country.

“So far the implementation has been going smoothly, we have not excluded anyone coming from the red list countries for the past week,” he stated.

Currently, a travel ban for passengers coming from South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique, Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, The Netherlands, Switzerland, Belgium, Italy, France, and Portugal is in effect until December 15.

Those who came from said countries, or had a travel history from them 14 days prior to arrival to the Philippines, may not be allowed to enter the country and will be boarded on the next available flight back to the country of origin. However, Filipinos arriving via government or non-government initiated flights or bayanihan flights are allowed, subject to a 14-day strict facility-based quarantine.

“We are still waiting for the directive from the IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases) if there is a need to extend or further expand these restrictions,” said Morente.

Morente credited the smooth implementation of the travel restrictions on the cooperation of international airlines, who screen travelers and disallow boarding of those not allowed by current policies.

Only Filipinos, balikbayan, and those with long-term visas not coming from red list countries are allowed to enter the Philippines, subject to set quarantine requirements as implemented by the Bureau of Quarantine. (BI)