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Immigration official notes exodus of foreigners from PH amid pandemic

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Angela Coloma, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2020/news/07/21/20200320-coronavirus-lockdown-naia-outbound-md-58.jpg"/><figcaption>The Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 in Pasay City is almost empty of passengers on March 20, 2020, after the 72-hour window for domestic flights prior to the air travel ban under the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon. <em>Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/File</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA - The Bureau of Immigration is seeing an uptick in foreign departures compared to arrivals in the country as the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic continues.</p><p>In a public press briefing, Immigration spokesperson Dana Sandoval said there was an &quot;exodus&quot; of foreigners leaving the country, with around 2 million departures for the year, adding that this may have an effect on the country&#x27;s economy by year-end.</p><p>This is higher compared to the 1.5 million arrivals tallied by the office, a trend Immigration sees happening until the end of the year as travel restrictions remain in place.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hnpB_TGvBM4?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div><div style="text-align:center"><em>Video courtesy of PTV</em></div><p>&quot;This has a bigger effect dahil for the past few years upward ang trend ng foreign arrivals following the efforts ng DOT, malaki ang magiging impact nito sa ating ekonomiya,&quot; Sandoval said.</p><p>(The trend of foreign arrivals have been upward for the past few years following DOT&#x27;s (Department of Tourism) efforts. This will have a big impact on our economy.)</p><p>The tourism industry was paralyzed for months earlier this year when government implemented lockdown restrictions to limit movement as it sought to contain the COVID-19 spread.</p><p>Several tourist spots have since reopened as quarantine restrictions eased, but they are limited to local tourists.</p><p>The government this week said it was allowing the entry of Filipinos&#x27; foreign spouses and their children starting December 7. It also permitted entry of former Filipino citizens, including their spouses and children, according to a pandemic task force resolution released Friday.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/11/27/20/asawang-banyaga-anak-ng-mga-pinoy-maaari-nang-pumasok-sa-bansa-mula-disyembre-7">READ: Asawang banyaga, anak ng mga Pinoy, maaari nang pumasok sa bansa mula Disyembre 7</a></li></ul><p>The travelers are allowed visa-free entry. However, they are required to pre-book a quarantine facility and COVID-19 test, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a statement.</p><p>The official said the move would allow families to reunite come Christmas time, reminding foreigners traveling to the Philippines to follow health protocols.</p><p>Sandoval clarified that these will only cover those who will be coming from countries with visa-free access to the country. The rest will have to secure visas before departure to the Philippines, along with other needed travel documents amid the pandemic.</p><p>&quot;[Compared] sa previous years hindi ito papalo ng ganoong karami and following itong pag-allow ng mga balikbayan it will be allowing Filipinos to be reunited with their families,&quot; Sandoval said.</p><p>(Compared to the previous years, we will not expect a high number of arrivals and now that we&#x27;ve allowed balikbayans in the Philippines, it will be allowing Filipinos to be reunited with their families.)</p>

<p>MANILA - The Bureau of Immigration is seeing an uptick in foreign departures compared to arrivals in the country as the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic continues.</p>

MANILA - The Bureau of Immigration is seeing an uptick in foreign departures compared to arrivals in the country as the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic continues.

Immigration official notes exodus of foreigners from PH amid pandemic

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Immigration official notes exodus of foreigners from PH amid pandemic

Angela Coloma,

ABS-CBN News

Published Nov 28, 2020 12:47 PM PHT

|

Updated Nov 28, 2020 02:45 PM PHT

Read More:

COVID-19 pandemic

foreigner

Bureau if Immigration

Filipino citizens

foreigners

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