Lifting of travel ban very risky — solon
“ILL-timed and very risky.”
This was how Gabriela Party-list Representative Arlene Brosas described the decision of the national government to lift the travel ban on at least 10 countries, including those with high cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Brosas expressed concern over the increasing number of COVID-19 cases in the country which might become alarming with the sudden lifting of inbound travel restrictions.
Earlier President Rodrigo Duterte approved the recommendation of the Inter-agency task force for the management of emerging infectious diseases (IATF) to lift the travel restrictions on 10 countries namely India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia.
Brosas warned that this might result in another COVID-19 surge as the country struggles with daily high cases of COVID-19.
“European countries reimpose a ban on American tourists in response to a recent surge in COVID-19 cases. Meanwhile, the Philippines lifts travel ban on countries with high delta cases such as Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. It is risky and plain foolish to lift travel restrictions whilst the Philippines itself is still under restrictive lockdowns,” Brosas said.
“Checkpoints para sa mahihirap, more travel para sa mayayaman. I don’t see how this policy can help with the government’s pandemic response. Talagang pinanindigan na lang ng Duterte administration ang palpak na pamamalakad sa kabila ng mataas na kaso ng COVID-19 sa bansa,” she added.
The party-list solon said the government must “focus on mass testing and strengthening the capacity of public hospitals instead of bringing in more risks of COVID-19 surge.”
“While it’s true that imposing a travel ban alone will not stop the rising cases of COVID-19, lifting the restrictions now amid a crumbling healthcare system and limited genomic surveillance is not the smartest thing to do,” she said.
