Senators encouraged the executive branch to temporarily ban European tourists in the Philippines.
Some senators on Tuesday encouraged the executive branch to “quickly and temporarily ban” European tourists in the Philippines.
This, after reports of a new strain of coronavirus disease in the United Kingdom surfaced earlier this month.
In a text message, Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon told reporters that the Department of Health should “act decisively” and not procrastinate.
In reference to the onset of the coronavirus pandemic in the Philippines wherein tourists from Wuhan in China were the first confirmed cases of coronavirus disease, Drilon also recalled that it was last February when the Department of Health didn’t immediately ban travels from China which directly caused the deadly local transmission of coronavirus disease.
On the other hand, Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto shared the same opinion and said that the safety of Filipinos should come first, adding that they must do everything in order to ensure the safety and protection of Filipinos.
Also, Senator Joel Villanueva agreed with the suggestion to issue a temporary travel ban on European tourists and noted that other European Union members had already closed their borders.
“We should act quickly and temporarily ban travelers from Europe… to ensure the new strain doesn’t spread here. Delikado talaga. Nasa huli pagsisisi,” Sen. Villanueva said.
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Earlier this year, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III mentioned that there’s no need to deny entry to visitors from mainland China despite the threat of a highly-contagious novel coronavirus disease.
Instead, Duque had recommended a travel ban on tourists from Hubei province in China.
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