GMA eyes HK travel ban due to SARS

President Arroyo wants to ban Filipinos from traveling to Hong Kong to prevent the deadly flu-like virus, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) from spreading in the Philippines.

However, Mrs. Arroyo said the country remains "SARS-free" based on an official report from the World Health Organization (WHO).

"We will deal with all facets of the (SARS) threat, all possible ways it can get to our country," she said. "And we will not hesitate to take extraordinary measures to protect our people."

Speaking at the 1st National Youth Camp and 200 National Convention at the Subic Bay Free Port yesterday, Mrs. Arroyo said information about SARS must be disseminated so the people would not believe rumors.

"I ask the people for their continued cooperation, support and sobriety," she said. "Together in mind and heart, we will beat this menace."

"Knowledge and strategy are important. Keep yourselves informed of the latest developments. Do not believe in rumors and contact our SARS hotlines if you need help."

Foreign Affairs Secretary Blas Ople told reporters yesterday it is "very likely within the day" the government will issue an advisory banning travel to Hong Kong.

"You saw in the news media that the number of SARS cases in Hong Kong has already tripled to at least 900," he said.

Ople said Consul General to Hong Kong Vicky Bataclan had recommended that Filipinos be banned from traveling to Hong Kong because of the SARS scare.

"And we are now studying this recommendation because Malaysia has already issued a travel ban to Hong Kong and I guess some of our ASEAN colleagues are planning to do that as well," he said.

Acting Labor and Employment Secretary Manuel Imson will issue a similar advisory to overseas Filipino workers bound for Hong Kong, he added.

Mrs. Arroyo said the government may also ban meat products from China following reports that the SARS virus might have come from poultry and meat from Guangdong.

But Mrs. Arroyo said Agriculture Secretary Luis Lorenzo is still evaluating the scientific basis of these reports.

"So if (Lorenzo) says this is idle speculation, but so from what I can think of, we’re not at that stage since we do not have SARS," she said.

Mrs. Arroyo said the Department of Health has also placed on a "high state of readiness" San Lazaro Hospital and other government and private hospitals to treat SARS-infected travelers.

Health Secretary Manuel Dayrit told Mrs. Arroyo that he and Immigration Commissioner Andrea Domingo were set to fly to Laoag International Airport yesterday to inspect quarantine procedures to be imposed on passengers of a flight expected from Guangdong.

Mrs. Arroyo said she has set aside P1.5 billion in contingency funds to be used by the anti-SARS management team co-headed by Dayrit and National Security Adviser Roilo Golez.

It was not clear whether Filipinos working in Hong Kong and other countries hit by the virus would be allowed to go home. –Marichu Villanueva, Pia Lee-Brago, AFP