Canada issues travel advisory for the Philippines due to threat of terrorism

Canadian travellers heading to the Philippines are asked to exercise “a high degree of caution.”

According to an advisory from the Government of Canada, this is due to the threat of terrorism and the high level of crime.

A travel advisory issued this week specifically outlines several provinces.

The Canadian government is advising again all travel to Western and Central Mindanao, and the southern Sulu Sea.

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“Avoid all travel to Western and Central Mindanao, including the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, due to the serious threat of terrorist attacks, kidnapping, high levels of criminality, and violent clashes between the military/police and terrorist or rebel groups,” states the advisory.

This includes the provinces of:

Basilan
Cotabato
Lanao del Norte
Lanao del Sur
Maguindanao
Misamis Occidental
North Cotabato
Sarangani
South Cotabato
Sultan Kudarat
Sulu
Tawi-Tawi
Zamboanga del Norte
Zamboanga del Sur
Zamboanga Sibugay

Avoid all travel to the southern Sulu Sea, including the waters south of the island of Palawan, due to a threat of piracy and kidnappings, according to the advisory.

Travellers should also “avoid non-essential travel” to Eastern Mindanao due to the threat of terrorism, kidnapping, high levels of criminality, and violent clashes between the military/police and terrorist or rebel groups.

“The situation in Eastern Mindanao is relatively more stable than in Western Mindanao,” states the federal government.

This includes the provinces of:

Agusan del Norte
Agusan del Sur
Bukidnon
Camiguin
Compostela Valley
Davao del Norte
Davao del Sur
Davao Occidental
Davao Oriental
Dinagat Islands
Misamis Oriental
Surigao del Norte
Surigao del Sur

“The decision to travel is your choice and you are responsible for your personal safety abroad,” says the government. “We take the safety and security of Canadians abroad very seriously and provide credible and timely information in our Travel Advice to enable you to make well-informed decisions regarding your travel abroad.”