PRESS
RELEASE
Department
of Foreign Affairs
2330
Roxas Blvd., Pasay City, Philippines
*
Tel. No. 834-4000
*
www.dfa.gov.ph
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No. 276;
5 June 2003
MORE
LIFT SARS RESTRICTIONS ON RP; “MAINTAIN VIGILANCE” – OPLE
The Department of Foreign Affairs recently received reports that two more
countries – Lebanon and Turkey -- have already lifted their ban or other
restrictions on the entry of travelers coming to or from the Philippines.
Earlier, the Department reported that Libya, Kuwait and Australia had lifted
restrictions on travel to and from the Philippines.
Although the Philippines has been removed by the WHO from its list of countries
with latest incidents of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), a sobering
report from the Philippine Embassy in Kuwait shows that it is possible for
a de-listed country to be re-included into the list.
Philippine Ambassador to Kuwait Bayani V. Mangibin reported that the Kuwaiti
Ministry of Foreign Affairs has released a circular informing all diplomatic
and consular missions to Kuwait that the State of Kuwait has decided to again
"...not to allow anyone coming from Canada (Toronto) to enter Kuwait..."
It will be recalled that Canada was already de-listed from the travel ban
order due to SARS, along with the Philippines, Vietnam and Mongolia. The
decision by the State of Kuwait to ban Canada again was reached following
a similar re-inclusion of Canada by the WHO as one of the countries affected
by SARS.
"The message here is clear: we should not be complacent," said Foreign Affairs
Secretary Blas F. Ople. "The decision made by several countries to lift travel
restrictions to and from the Philippines is indeed heartening news.
But we must remain ever vigilant against the return of SARS”. - END