MANILA: The government has lifted a 72-hour window it had given Filipinos and foreigners to fly out of the Philippines as part of more stringent measures to contain the coronavirus after President Rodrigo Duterte imposed a one-month “enhanced” community quarantine on Luzon, the Philippines’ largest island.
All overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), balikbayans and foreigners are now allowed to fly out of Luzon airports at any time during the 30-day quarantine period following the modification of the policy on foreign travel made by the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infections Disease (IATF-EID), Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles announced on Tuesday night.
Nograles, who is also spokesperson for the IATF-EID, however, said Filipino tourists would be barred from leaving the country.
The 72-hour period, which was announced on Sunday, was to end at 11:59 p.m. on Thursday. The announcement was followed in the next two days by numerous rebookings by Filipinos, balikbayans and foreigners who had swamped the ticket offices of several airlines, some angered by the delays in the rescheduling of their flights and the high rebooking fees.
“There was some confusion with other government agencies yesterday, but we discussed this to them and to the IATF-EID, and we were able to clarify that OFWs are indeed allowed to travel,” Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente said .
The Department of Tourism (DOT) on Wednesday welcomed the decision to lift the 72-hour window.
This would give more time for the DOT and other government agencies to arrange for the transportation and flights of foreign tourists coming from the provinces, according to Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat.
The DOT has created a tourism airport team to provide 24-hour service to stranded tourists at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) and other airports, and provide assistance in arranging flights, transportation, meals and accommodation.
The Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA), which operates Naia, said it had authorized its accredited taxis to drive passengers to or from the airport, but it advised drivers to avoid Edsa, according to MIAA public affairs chief Connie Bungag.
The IATF-EID said the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration might also provide transportation for OFWs leaving for abroad.
Under the new foreign travel rules, travelers may head to the airport within 24 hours of their scheduled departure. They may be accompanied only by one person who must carry a copy of the traveler’s e-ticket or itinerary on the way to the airport and back.
Travelers from abroad are allowed entry into the country subject to strict immigration and quarantine protocols. But those coming from Italy and Iran must present medical certificates validated by their governments that they were in good health not more than 48 hours before their flight to the Philippines.
Filipinos abroad, including their foreign spouses and children, and other permanent residents may return to the Philippines any time, Nograles said.
But if they were coming from China, Hong Kong, and Macau, they would be quarantined for 14 days.
All other returning Filipinos and permanent residents arriving in Luzon would have to undergo mandatory home quarantine.
