'Balikbayan,' dayuhang asawa, anak ng mga Pinoy pwede umuwi sa bansa in 2 weeks

MANILA, Philippines — 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.

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

"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.

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

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.

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. — may mga ulat mulakay The STAR/Christina Mendez