Malacañang sees no need to bar Chinese from entering the Philippines

Malacañang currently believes that the need to prohibit Chinese nationals, including those from Wuhan, China, from entering the country, is still not yet necessary. However, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) had already stopped issuing visa-upon-arrival to Chinese tourists.


Salvador Panelo, the spokesperson of the President, advises Filipinos who are currently residing in China to obey the rules being implemented by the Chinese government to prevent the spread of the 2019-nCoV.
Based on an article from Philstar Global, the 2020 coronavirus outbreak had already resulted in the isolation of multiple cities in China, including the province of Hubei, where the virus first infected people.

Tourists from China often apply for VUAs upon their arrival in the Philippines.


According to the Chief of BI Jaime Morente, the Civil Aeronautics Board had already temporarily stopped the country from receiving flights originating from Wuhan, China. It is the board's move to limit and lessen the total number of Chinese nationals groups visiting the country.

In Taiwan, immigration authorities had already canceled entrance to their country for 429 visitors from 24 group tours originating from Wuhan. According to Morente, the restrictions currently being implemented to slow down the entry of Chinese people in the country is to prevent the possible entry of the 2019-nCoV in the Philippines.

Morente also said that the Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ) is enforcing strict measures in checking arriving passengers in the country. It had immensely focused on informing its frontline staff regarding the 2020 coronavirus, its transmission, and risks.

In Cebu, the two mayors from Lapu-Lapu City and
Cebu City are already requesting a total ban on all Chinese tourists.

According to a statement released by Senator Vicente Sotto, the threat of the 2019-nCoV is still present. He supports the restriction of entry for Chinese tourists to keep the Philippines 2020 Coronavirus-free.