Manila, Apr 10: The Philippines today said it has advised its citizens against visiting Hongkong and southern China to halt the spread of a killer pneumonia strain. Manila also stopped sending workers to Hongkong, and shelved a scheduled finance ministers` meeting later this month of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean.) "The travel advisory against Hongkong and the southern part of China is a defensive move in the national interest, and does not in any way put to doubt the valiant efforts of China to contain the disease," President Gloria Arroyo said in a statement. "We expect full cooperation of our overseas Filipino workers and countrymen. This is a time to awaken our sense of responsibility for our fellow human beings," she added. Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) has killed more than 100 people and infected nearly 3,000 worldwide.

Foreign Secretary Blas Ople said the labor department "is not processing contract workers for Hongkong right now. The reason is SARS."

He stressed: "There is no total ban, but consistent with (health) Secretary (Manuel) Dayrit`s policy, we ask all Filipinos to suspend all unnecessary travel to Hongkong, China and Guangdong (province)."

He said Manila was following the travel advisory issued by the World Health Organization (WHO), and that the Philippine advisory would be lifted as soon as the WHO certifies that travel to these areas is safe.

Bureau Report