MANILA, Philippine—The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has removed the “Not Valid for Travel to Iraq” stamp in Philippine passports but said the deployment ban in the Arab country remains.

The move was made following a decision by concerned agencies that  travel advisories, including deployment ban, will now be issued by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA).

But the DFA stressed that the removal of the stamp, which began on July 1, does not mean that travel to Iraq for employment is already allowed.

Deployment bans have been imposed also in countries like Nigeria, Lebanon, Afghanistan, and Jordan, and yet, the Philippine passports do not reflect this, the DFA said.