Philippines: Malacanang responds to recent travel advisories

The Presidential Palace has responded to the latest travel advisories issued by Canada, Australia and the United States concerning travel to the southern Philippines.

On July 4, following the advisories from the Canadian and Australian governments, Malacanang officials assured travelers to the Philippines that the government and concerned law enforcement agencies are taking active steps to ensure the safety of tourists and visitors from other countries.

Public domain image/Natsirtj

In a press briefing Thursday, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said the advisories were “normal advisories” given by countries in order to “protect and caution” their citizens as they travel to different parts of the world.

“With respect to the advisory that was given, these are normal advisories. They have to protect and caution their citizens and we understand the situation,” Lacierda said.

“We understand the reason for their doing so but we can assure them that our responsibility as a nation is to ensure the safety of our own citizens as well as the visitors who come here,” he added.

And again after the US travel advisory, Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said in a press briefing, “We respect the right of any country to issue any precautionary measures intended for the safety of their citizens while visiting other countries in the same way that the Philippine government, through our posts in other countries, has also issued several warnings whenever we feel that our citizens should take extra precautions in light of events that are happening.”