Philippines Travel Advisory: Level 3 Reconsider Travel (August 07, 2020)

[+Salty Dog 78,661]

 

United States Embassy Manila, Philippines

 

Alert: Updated Travel Advisory – U.S. Embassy Manila (August 7, 2020)  

 Location:  The Philippines  

 Event:  The U.S. Department of State has updated its Philippines Travel Advisory. 

 Reconsider travel to the Philippines due to COVID-19. Additionally, exercise increased caution in the Philippines due to crime, terrorism, civil unrest, a measles outbreak, and kidnapping. Some areas have increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory. 

 Read the Department of State’s COVID-19 page before you plan any international travel.    

 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a Level 3 Travel Health Notice for the Philippines due to COVID-19.    

Philippines has resumed most transportation options, (including airport operations and re-opening of borders) and business operations (including day cares and schools).  Other improved conditions have been reported within the Philippines. Visit the Embassy's COVID-19 page for more information on COVID-19 in the Philippines.   

 Do Not Travel to:

 ·         The Sulu Archipelago, including the southern Sulu Sea, due to crime, terrorism, civil unrest, and kidnapping.

·         Marawi City in Mindanao due to terrorism and civil unrest.  

 Reconsider Travel to:

 ·         Other areas of Mindanao due to crime, terrorism, civil unrest, and kidnapping. 

Terrorist and armed groups continue plotting possible kidnappings, bombings, and other attacks in the Philippines. Terrorist and armed groups may attack with little or no warning, targeting tourist locations, markets/shopping malls, and local government facilities. The Philippine government has declared a “State of National Emergency on Account of Lawless Violence in Mindanao.”

There is an outbreak of measles in the Philippines. Philippine authorities have reported deaths in the National Capital Region, Central Luzon, and Davao. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has additional information on the outbreak.

Read the country information page. 

If you decide to travel to the Philippines:

 ·         See the U.S. Embassy's webpage regarding COVID-19.  

·         Visit the CDC’s webpage on Travel and COVID-19.   

·         Monitor local media for breaking events and adjust your plans based on new information.

·         Avoid demonstrations.

·         Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.

·         Follow the Department of State on Facebookand Twitter.

·         Review the Crime and Safety Report for the Philippines.

·         U.S. citizens who travel abroad should always have a contingency plan for emergency situations. Review the Traveler’s Checklist.

The Sulu Archipelago and Sulu Sea – Level 4: Do Not Travel 

Terrorist and armed groups continue to conduct kidnappings on land and at sea for ransom, bombings, and other attacks targeting U.S. citizens, foreigners, civilians, local government institutions, and security forces.

The U.S. government has limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in the Sulu Archipelago and Sulu Sea as U.S. government employees must obtain special authorization to travel to those areas. 

Visit our website for Travel to High-Risk Areas.

Marawi City in Mindanao – Level 4: Do Not Travel

Civilians are at risk of death or injury due to conflict between remnants of terrorist groups and Philippine security forces in Marawi.

The U.S. government has limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in Mindanao as U.S. government employees must obtain special authorization to travel there.

Visit our website for Travel to High-Risk Areas.

 Mindanao – Level 3: Reconsider Travel 

 The Philippine government maintains a state of emergency and greater police presence in the Cotabato City area, and in the Maguindanao, North Cotabato, and Sultan Kudarat provinces.

Terrorist and armed groups continue to conduct kidnappings, bombings, and other attacks targeting U.S. citizens, foreigners, civilians, local government institutions, and security forces. 

The U.S. government has limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in Mindanao as U.S. government employees must obtain special authorization to travel there. 

Visit our website for Travel to High-Risk Areas.

Assistance:

·        U.S. Embassy in the Philippines

          +63 (2) 301-2000

·         [email protected] 

·         State Department – Consular Affairs

          888-407-4747 or 202-501-4444

·         Philippines Country Information

·         Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive security updates 

·        Follow us on Twitter and Facebook

[BossHog 42,030]

Well that's a bit gloomy. Besides all the crime, bombings, kidnappings, ransom, disease, conflicts, civil unrest, armed groups and terrorism they could've added something nice about the delicious local cuisine. You know, just to brighten it up a little.

[Headshot 29,765]

It is about time that other countries start posting travel warnings about travel to the US. COVID-19, murders, rapes, drive-by shootings, riots and not so peaceful demonstrations. There are probably a dozen other reasons other countries could label the US a no travel zone.

I'm kidding, of course. It is likely that 99.9999% of all visitors to the US (or most other countries) would be perfectly fine, but somehow countries think they should protect their citizens from their own stupidity. It's a moot point though, since very few people are traveling at all this year unless they have a damn good reason. Recreational travel is pretty much nil.

[SkyMan 26,643]

On 8/7/2020 at 4:43 PM, BossHog said:

they could've added something nice about the delicious local cuisine. You know, just to brighten it up a little.

Well, this does sound a bit like a tag line for a travel agency looking for a niche market of people looking for high adventure.

On 8/7/2020 at 4:00 PM, Salty Dog said:

Visit our website for Travel to High-Risk Areas.

 

[baby43 158]

Good morning here in Australia everyone, I am always getting warnings from the Australian government similar to this warning, I work for a bus company part time, they also have a travel agency, if they try and book you on a flight to the Philippines the map pf the Philippines comes up red and will not except a booking, this also for any internal flights within that country, comes up warning from Australian Government not to travel in this country because of travel warning and safety. 

[baby43 158]

Wow come to think about it guys you could be right, the tricks travel agents play, this travel agent my company uses one of the biggrst ones in Australia Hello World, and they not cheapest one always trying to sell you products much dearer than if you search online you get a lot cheaper.

[baby43 158]

I think most of the warning countries post are to countries that have problems,however high on the list the Philippines, sure many more countries.

[SkyMan 26,643]

These warnings are just a liability thing.  Someone gets in trouble and tries to blame the gov't so they say, we warned you.  Go piss up a rope. Of course, they would tell you to piss up a rope anyway but this makes it official.  Hahahaha