Vice President Leni Robredo has criticized the decision of President Rodrigo Duterte to lift the travel restrictions on 10 countries including the United Arab Emirates.
On her weekly radio show, Robredo said she’s disappointed with the government’s decision to lift the ban especially now that the country is in the middle of a COVID-19 surge.
“Sana ang policy ay data driven. Hindi ko alam bakit magtatanggal tayo ng restriction kung ang taas-taas ng kaso natin,” she said.
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Robredo said that the country’s flip-flopping decision on travel bans was the cause of our problematic pandemic situation.
“Yung laki ng problema natin nagsimula dun,” she said.
Robredo was referring to the government’s late imposition of a travel ban on Wuhan, China during the start of the pandemic last year.
READ ON: PH lifts UAE travel ban, announces protocols for returning OFWs
Duterte has approved the IATF decision to lift the travel ban on United Arab Emirates, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Oman, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia starting September 6, 2021.
“International travelers coming from the abovementioned countries shall, however, comply with the appropriate entry, testing and quarantine protocols, depending on the country’s approved listing,” Malacañang said in an announcement. (TDT)
