MANILA – A travel medical insurance with additional two weeks or 15 days coverage may soon be required before a Filipino traveler can exit the country, a ranking Department of Tourism (DOT) official said Wednesday.
"Ang napag-usapan doon sa technical working group ay malamang tataasan natin 'yong insurance coverage, in fact, isa sa mga napag-uusapan is baka bukod doon sa travel duration baka kailangan kumuha ka pa ng insurance for extra two weeks or 15 days (From the technical working group discussion, the required insurance coverage may further be increased, in fact, part of the discussion is that aside from travel duration there may be a need to get insurance for extra two weeks or 15 days)," DOT Undersecretary Benito Bengzon, Jr. said in a radio interview.
Bengzon said this is to ensure that Filipinos traveling abroad amid the pandemic are protected in case emergencies arise or when they undergo a long period of quarantine and hospitalization.
The official said DOT is currently in talks with travel agents but "haven't finalized yet the agreements".
Despite this, the agency expects to release more details on the subject in the coming days. "We hope to have something by next week," he said in a text message.
The restriction on non-essential outbound travel of Filipinos was recently lifted subject to certain conditions set by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID).
Based on IATF-EID resolution No. 52 dated July 6, travelers must have "adequate travel and health insurance to cover rebooking and accommodation expenses if stranded, and hospitalization in case of infection, in such amount as may be determined by the DOT".
Travelers exiting the country on tourist visas must also submit confirmed round-trip tickets.
Revenue for stakeholders
The lifting of restrictions, in a way, is seen to bring revenues to the government by way of travel taxes as well as to travel agencies that had been bleeding for months due to the economic impact of Covid-19.
But Philippine Travel Agencies Association (PTAA) president Ritchie Tuaño said this would still depend on the number of people who will travel and the countries that will allow them entry.
"The lifting of the ban on non-essential travel does not mean immediate revenue coming in for travel agents," he said in a text message.
"Within our neighboring countries in Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) and North Asia, most if not all have not opened their borders to any nationalities with leisure as the purpose of travel. This is the biggest challenge we see now," he added.
According to the latest data from the Department of Foreign Affairs, a total of 31 countries have so far lifted their inbound border restrictions on Filipino travels, subject to medical protocols on arriving passengers.
On the other hand, 68 countries/territories still do not allow entry in their borders such as Cuba, Haiti, Palau, Timor Leste, France, and most countries in Middle East/Africa, among others.
About 78 countries/territories, despite inbound border closures, meanwhile give entry exemptions to Filipinos who are citizens of the destination country and returning residents, overseas Filipinos with work visas and contracts, and diplomatic or United Nations passport holders going to post or on official travel. (PNA)
