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Tourism

Philippines Protests US Travel Advisory, Calls for Explanation

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Philippine lawmakers are strongly protesting the recent United States travel advisory that warns Americans against traveling to the Philippines due to heightened safety risks. The advisory, issued by the US State Department on May 8, places the Philippines under 'Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution' and designates specific areas with higher risk, including the Sulu Archipelago and Marawi City in Mindanao. Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez has urged the Department of Foreign Affairs to summon the US Ambassador to Manila, MaryKay Carlson, to demand an explanation for the advisory. Rodriguez also called on President Marcos to direct the DFA, Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez, and the Department of Tourism to account for their actions.

Key Takeaways:

  • The US State Department issued a travel advisory on May 8 warning Americans against traveling to the Philippines due to heightened safety risks.
  • The advisory places the Philippines under 'Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution' and designates specific areas with higher risk, including the Sulu Archipelago and Marawi City in Mindanao.
  • The advisory notes that terrorists and armed groups have carried out kidnappings, bombings, and other attacks targeting public areas like tourist sites, markets, and local government facilities in the Philippines.
  • The Philippine government has called for an explanation from the US Ambassador, MaryKay Carlson, and has urged President Marcos to direct the Department of Foreign Affairs, Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez, and the Department of Tourism to account for their actions.
  • Representative Rufus Rodriguez has stressed that the advisory paints the Philippines in a negative light internationally, potentially discouraging not only Americans but also other foreign tourists.
  • The advisory specifically highlights the perceived bias against Mindanao, stating that 'It is, likewise, particularly biased against our beloved island, Mindanao.'

The advisory specifically designates specific areas with higher risk: 'Do Not Travel to: The Sulu Archipelago, including the southern Sulu Sea, and Marawi City in Mindanao, due to crime, terrorism, civil unrest, and kidnapping, and Reconsider Travel to: Other areas of Mindanao due to crime, terrorism, civil unrest, and kidnapping.'

Statistics:

  • 46.8% of the Philippines is under 'Level 3: Reconsider Travel' (excluding Davao City, Davao del Norte, Siargao Island, and Dinagat Islands).
  • 10% of the Philippines is under 'Level 4: Do Not Travel' (Marawi City and Sulu, including the Sulu Sea).
  • 42.9% of the Philippines is under 'Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution'.

Sources:

  • The Philippine Star
  • The Manila Times
  • United States Department of State
  • Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs
  • Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez

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