Duterte requires travel insurance for Filipinos going abroad

President Duterte has mandated that Filipinos planning to travel abroad must secure adequate travel and health insurance.

This new requirement aims to protect travelers from the substantial costs of hospitalization or rebooking and accommodation expenses if they become stranded due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) is considering requiring enhanced travel medical insurance that includes an additional 15 days of coverage beyond the travel duration.

This enhancement aims to further protect Filipinos traveling abroad in case of emergencies, long quarantine periods, or hospitalization.

The government had previously lifted the suspension on non-essential outbound travel but introduced conditions for the safety and health of departing Filipinos.

Duterte acknowledged that the insurance cost might be significant for travelers.

He specifically mentioned Blue Cross as a recommended insurance provider that can offer coverage for incidents occurring while abroad.

The DOT is in talks with travel agents and expects to release more details next week.