Is Traveling to Ph Safe?

REGARDLESS OF TRAVEL alert levels a country (esp. an ally or friend at that) labels another (like the Philippines), such will have a psychological impact on tourists, who will either put off such plans to visit a certain place, or if the tourist is adventurous enough would disregard the advisory altogether.

The Level 2 travel advisory branded on regions in Southern Philippines, this would have an adverse impact on local tourism and business as it might also discourage even local tourist (Filipinos in the country) from considering going to those areas.

It is but right for Rep. Rufus Rodriguez to call the State Department advisory as an “unfair shotgun warning,” which would deeply hurt the lives and livelihood of people living within local governments in these islands.

INCREASED CAUTION

US citizens are advised to reconsider travel to Mindanao, except Davao City, Davao del Norte Province, Siargao Island, and the Dinagat Islands because these are being targeted by terrorists and armed groups who engage in kidnapping, bombings and other attacks, many of which target foreign visitors.

Travel to the Philippines is under Level 2 meaning increased caution due to potential for kidnappings, bombings and other attacks that target tourist sites, markets and local government facilities. 

The State Department advisory states: “protests in the Philippines could turn violent and local governments often have limited ability to respond.”

Terrorist and armed groups in the Sulu Archipelago and the Sulu Sea have historically engaged in kidnappings as well as bombings and other attacks, the State Department warned. 

SPECIAL TRAVEL AUTHORITY

The US government already requires special authorization for federal employees to travel to those areas because of limited access to emergency services.
Clashes between terrorist groups and Philippine security forces prompted the warning for Marawi City.

The State Department especially highlighted at least two different islands in the Philippines to avoid. This Level 4 advisory is for “The Sulu Archipelago, including the southern Sulu Sea” due to crime, terrorism, civil unrest and kidnapping, as well as “Marawi City in Mindanao due to terrorism and civil unrest.”

LEVELS OF T.A.

There are four levels of travel advisory: Level 1 through 4. For the Philippines, Level 2 was announced indicating the level of concern for the entire areas and Level 4 has been raised for the two islands. 

The State Department also advised US citizens travelling to the Philippines to: 1) monitor local media for breaking events and be prepared to adjust their plans; 2) avoid demonstrations; and 3) buy insurance before travelling. It is said the State Department also issued travel advisories in popular tourist destinations in Europe.

The State Department also recommended medical evacuation insurance, travel health insurance and trip cancellation insurance. 

It also suggested enrolling in the Smart Travel Enrolment Program to get alerts and make it easier for the traveler to be located in an emergency and prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations.

Back home, the Department of Foreign Affairs, which should be the frontliner in disputing such an advisory  was asked by Rep. Rufus Rodriguez (Cagayan de Oro) to summon US Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carson to demand an explanation over the May 8 travel advisory by the State Department.

CASE TO CASE

The US Embassy in Manila explained their travel advisories are based on “a careful analysis of local conditions.”

“We regularly evaluate our travel advisories to ensure that they provide the most accurate information to American citizen travelers.  Our travel advisory for the Philippines has not changed substantially since May 2024,” US Embassy in Manila spokesman Kanishka Gangopadhyay told Business Mirror recently.

Rodriguez also urged President Marcos to summon Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez and the Department of Tourism what measures they have taken to address the concerns raised by the advisory.

“This is an unfair, shotgun warning. There are certainly many places in the country that are safe to tourists,” Rodriguez explained as he urged the US to review the advisory.

VIOLENT CRIMES

The May 8 advisory published on the US State department’s website said that armed groups have carried out kidnappings and attacks on public areas like tourist sites, markets and government facilities in the country.

“Violent crimes are also common in the Philippines such as robbery, kidnappings, and physical assaults,” it said. “Protests happen in the Philippines and could turn violent and/or result in traffic jams and road closures with limited capacity of the local government to respond.”

As of March, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said the nationwide crime rate fell by 18.4% in the first quarter of 2025 from that of 2024.
The number of crimes recorded by the PNP dropped to 7,301 cases from 8,950 in the last three months of 2024.

IN A BAD LIGHT

Rodriguez deplored the travel warning as painting the Philippines in a bad light, unfairly portraying the country.

“It discourages not only Americans but other foreign tourists as well from visiting the Philippines. It will surely hurt our tourism sector,” he said.

Philippine tourism last year registered earnings of P760 billion, Department of Tourism records showed. Around 5.95 million foreign tourists entered the country in 2024, up 9.15 percent from 2023, but way below DoT’s goal of 7.7-million.

FOCUS ON MINDANAO

Rodriguez is particularly concerned that focus on Mindanao where Sulu and Marawi City were under Level 4 (the strictest level) while most of Mindanao was classifed as Level 3 (reconsider travel) while the rest of the country was at Level 2.

“It’s particularly biased against Mindanao. We have worked hard to show that our region is open, safe, and vibrant. This advisory erases that progress with one stroke,” he said.

Rodriguez stressed that while the Philippines values its strong ties with the U.S., allies must treat each other with fairness.