Fellow travellers

As Ambassador, one of my highest priorities is to safeguard the interests of Australian citizens in the Philippines. The Australian Government travel advisory for the Philippines provides generic advice to Australian travellers to enable them to better anticipate and manage the risks that they may encounter and to avoid certain places. 

There are, of course, no risk-free places in the world and the Australian Government issues travel advisories for all countries. Accident, terrorism, crime and illness can strike anywhere, including in Australia.  However, some places are clearly more risky than others and, importantly, the capacity of the Embassy to provide consular assistance in some locations is severely limited, as are the local services on the ground.

On recent visits to Cotabato City in Mindanao and to Puerto Princesa in Palawan I was left in no doubt about the impact of Australia’s travel advisory. If Australia and other countries downgrade the settings for a particular location it can have a chilling effect causing people to change their travel plans.  This has detrimental outcomes for the local tourism industry and the broader economy of that destination. 

That is why It pains me to have to consider possible changes to our travel advice for areas that we previously considered lower risk.  I have had to do this more than I would like recently. 

In formulating our travel advice, we consult with local authorities, other Embassies and Canberra to get the best possible information. When credible information comes to our attention we have a duty to pass it on to Australian citizens.

Australia maintains three settings for the Philippines. Western and Central Mindanao are designated “Do Not Travel,” Eastern Mindanao is “Reconsider your need to travel” and the rest of the Philippines is “Exercise a High Degree of Caution.” 

I am pleased to say that these settings have not changed in light of recent events, but we have provided factual updates about developments on the ground to inform the travelling public.

Some will choose to disregard the travel advice.  They come in many guises - adventure tourists, business people who have investments in risky locations, journalists who want to shine a light on conflicts, humanitarian workers assisting vulnerable populations, missionaries, retirees and children.

Indeed Embassy staff regularly travel to Mindanao, including the Autonomous Region because that is where we target much of our development program.  We need to know the local conditions and stakeholders to deliver our programs effectively.  I travelled to Cotabato City myself for the closing ceremony of our long-running education program, soon to be replaced by a new $90 million development facility. 

A number of Filipinos have suggested to me that we are brave to be travelling to Western Mindanao, but I point out that we have very strong security in place and operate in a highly risk averse manner.  This is not the case for the average Australia traveller.  We therefore aim to provide information to enable them to make informed decisions.

The displaced people of Marawi City and surrounding areas do not have the luxury of choice. They are caught in a conflict not of their making and have lost their homes, schools and livelihoods. 

Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has announced an initial package of humanitarian assistance including food and other supplies. The recovery effort will require a long-term commitment by the Philippine Government and the international community.

Australia fully supports the Government of the Philippines in its concerted effort to defeat extremism in Marawi City and surrounds.  The resolution of the peace process and a focus on achieving economic and social development in Mindanao are essential parts of the equation.

One day I hope the conditions on the ground will allow more people, Filipinos and foreigners alike, to safely travel to this beautiful and undiscovered part of the Philippines and enable Australia to finally lift its do not travel warning.

 (Amanda Gorely is the Australian Ambassador to the Philippines.  Follow her on Twitter @AusAmbPH.)º