At least 100 overseas Filipino workers were stranded at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) after the Kuwaiti government imposes a travel ban on the Philippines due to the coronavirus disease or COVID-19.
The Kuwaiti government also suspended for a week all flights to and from Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Bangladesh, India and Sri-Lanka.
The ban covers Filipinos and nationals of the six other countries. Foreigners with a valid residency visa in Kuwait and even those who previously entered the country were also banned.
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Returning Kuwaitis on the other hand must undergo mandatory quarantine. The gulf state also imposes a ban to China, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Iran, Thailand, Italy and Iraq.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) urged Filipino pilgrims to postpone their plans to travel to the Holy Land as the Palestinian Authority banned the entry of all tourists to the area.
“Prospective travelers are therefore advised to coordinate with their tour operators to avoid any inconvenience,” the DFA said in a statement.
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“The agency (DFA) knows better than us. The appeal is clearly meant to protect our citizens and ensure our safety,” CPCP Executive Secretary Jerome Secillano told Philippine Star.
