PH Lifts Travel Restrictions

Foreigners Must Be Fully Vaxed!

30 January 2022

The Philippine government announced that it will lift travel restriction to the country beginning 1 February 2022, for visa-free travelers, and 16 February 2022, for all types of travelers,  after it reaches a target of vaccinating 90 million Filipinos by end of January this year.

Starting February 1, fully vaccinated inbound travelers will instead be required to present a negative RT-PCR test taken within 48 hours prior to departure from the country of origin, irrespective of color classification, and a verifiable vaccination card, Cabinet Secretary and acting presidential spokesperson Karlo Nograles said in a press briefing Sunday.

According to Nograles, the President approved the recommendation of the National Task Force for Emerging and Infectious Diseases (IATF), Task Force on COVID-19 New Variants and sub-Technical Working Group on Data Analytics, on  lifting of international travel restrictions, as the country attains wall immunity having vaccinated 75% of its population of 120 million by 31st January.

“Upon arrival, they shall no longer be required to observe mandatory facility-based quarantine,” he said.

Nograles added that for those unvaccinated, partially vaccinated, or individuals whose vaccination status cannot be independently validated will be required to undergo facility-based quarantine until the release of their negative RT-PCR test taken on the fifth day, in addition to a negative RT-PCR test taken within 48 hours prior to departure from the country of origin.

Also, children below 12 years old who cannot be vaccinated shall follow the quarantine protocols of parents or the accompanying guardian traveling with them.

Meaning, they will have to undergo facility-based quarantine for 5 days when they bring with them unvaccinated children, regardless of age.

“The unvaccinated, partially vaccinated individuals refers to returning Filipinos only,” says Nograles. 

“Foreign nationals will require presentation of full vaccination records at the airport of departure and negative RT-PCR test before they are permitted to fly the plane to Manila,” adds Nograles.

Gov't Mandates No Vaccine No Travel Policy

14 January 2022

The Transport Department (DOTr) issued a mandate to allow public transportation access only to fully vaccinated individuals beginning 17 January.

Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade issued Department Order No. 2022-001 dated January 11, 2022, requiring all common carriers, including airlines, to transport vaccinated passengers only. 

DOTr said vaccination status can be proven by either physical or digital copies of local government unit-issued vaccine card, Department of Health-issued vaccine certification, or any Inter-Agency Task Force-prescribed document with valid government-issued ID with picture and address.

In a statement, the local carriers said they support the mandate of DOTr in order to save lives of both the vaccinated and unvaccinated passengers.

“We laud the DOTr’s initiative to help the Filipino public embark on essential travels during the current crisis,” PAL president and chief operating officer Gilbert Santa Maria said in a statement.

“We assure the public that PAL will do our part to uphold the strictest safety standards and health protocols in our continuing operation of our domestic and international flight network,” Santa Maria added.

PAL international and domestic operations has been hit badly by covid19 infections affecting airport, ground and air crews alike, prompting them to suspend some routes due to operational deficiencies. 

Meanwhile, AirAsia Philippines said that No vaccine, No travel policy of the government is “an effective tool to encourage every Filipino to take the shot, and get an added layer of protection against any emerging COVID-19 variant,” according to CEO Ricky Isla.

“From the onset of the pandemic, AirAsia has always been working closely with the IATF, DOTr and its attached agencies along with medical experts in the implementation of multi-layered approaches to safety in the aviation sector,” he said.

Cebu Pacific on the other hand disclosed that it will offer its passengers affected by the “No Vaccination, No Ride” flexible options as the airline complies with and supports the government’s order to limit public transportation access to vaccinated individuals. 

“Cebu Pacific will comply with the latest government order which aims to protect the majority... Cebu Pacific is committed to getting you on your way as soon as the times become safer for most of us,” said Candice Iyog, Vice President for Marketing & Customer Experience at Cebu Pacific. 

Cebu Pacific was likewise hit by escalating infections of its airport, ground and flight crews resulting to their isolation from work, thus affecting operational requirements of most of its domestic network leading to cancellation of flights.

Starting January 17, Monday, all domestic airlines, operating scheduled or non-scheduled commercial services to and from NCR, are required to only provide air transportation services to and from NCR to fully vaccinated persons, unless exempted, such as the following: 

a)    Persons with medical conditions that prevent their full COVID-19 vaccination as shown by a duly-signed medical certificate with the name and contact details of their doctor;

b)    Persons who will buy essential goods and services, such as but not limited to food, water, medicine, medical devices, public utilities, energy, work, and medical and dental necessities, as shown by a duly issued barangay health pass or other proof to justify travel

Airlines said non-vaccinated guests with essential purpose of travel from Metro Manila such as persons with medical conditions that prevent full COVID-19 vaccination will still be allowed to fly, provided that they present a duly signed medical certificate with name and contact details of their physician.

Likewise, persons who will provide essential goods and services as evidenced by a duly issued barangay health pass or other appropriate proof that will justify travel will also be accepted during the flight, according to the local airlines.

“We are one with the DOTr and the Philippine air transport sector in working to sustain vital air services throughout the country,” PAL Express president Bonifacio Sam adds.

IATF brings Back NAIA Capacity to 3K

 14 January 2022

The National Task Force on Emerging Diseases NTF-IATF) has downgraded international capacity of Manila International Airport back to 3,000 passengers a day beginning January 12 from 6,000 passengers last week.

In a latest advisory sent by Transport Department (DOTr) to the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) dated January 7 and sent to government offices and Philippine diplomatic posts overseas, CAB Executive Director Carmelo Arcilla said international passenger arrivals at NAIA will be capped at a maximum of 3,000 per day effective midnight of  January 12 due to rising incidents of Covid19 infections among passengers and airport staff.

Bureau of Quarantine reported 19 incidents of covid19 infection from arriving passengers who came from overseas yesterday.

The maximum capacity restrictions will be valid for 15 days, subject to updates by the IATF whether to extend or lift the flight restrictions.

International quarantine capacity in other international airport across the country remains unaffected.

Air Asia Philippines shown rerouting AK119 from Bangkok to Davao instead of Manila. 

Arcilla said passengers traveling to the Philippines within these dates should contact their airlines for updates and re-schedule flights to avoid inconveniences at the airport.

Philippine Airlines said that they have rerouted some of their affected flights bound for Manila to Cebu, Davao, Clark, Subic and Laoag.

CAAP Limits NAIA Capacity

Cancels Excess Flights 

8 January 2021

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) has limited departure and arrival capacity at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) effectively cancelling 104 flights after the government raised covid alert level in Metro Manila.

CAAP said the new directive will mainly affect domestic flights at Terminal 2 and 3 as NAIA reduces terminal capacity to 30% in compliance with alert level 3 directive, beginning today until January 15, 2022.

Pursuant to the terminal restrictions, Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific, and AirAsia has cancelled some of its domestic flights affected by this restrictions.

CEB Affected flights include those from Manila to Kalibo, Legazpi, Tacloban, Boracay (Caticlan), Iloilo, Butuan, Cagayan de Oro, Cotabato, Davao, Cebu, Bohol (Tagbiliran), Cauayan, Puerto Princesa, Iloilo, Coron (Busuanga), Dipolog, and Legazpi.  

Cebu Pacific stated that “the situation remains fluid, additional flight cancellations may take place in the coming days,” 

PAL affected flights include those to Davao, Cebu, Iloilo, Tagbilaran, Dumaguete, Tacloban, Cagayan, Butuan, Caticlan, Busuanga, Legaspi, and Cotabato.

The airline said most of the affected flights depart and arrive in the morning, making tremendous congestion at the pre-departure and arrival areas that violate safety protocol and social distancing rules.

The airline also reported that some cancellations were caused by operational requirements after most of its staff was tested positive for corona virus after the new year, requiring their quarantine to avoid infecting people. 

PAL said many of its airport employees failed to report to work due to the spiraling infection.

Restriction do not apply to international arriving passengers however as they will need to undergo mandatory quarantine restriction, as compared to domestic passengers that doesn't require one.

MNL Springs Back To Life

Congestion is almost Back 

15 December 2021

Manila International Airport has come back to life as air traffic leaped to 70% pre-pandemic levels, despite reporting 574 international travelers from green and yellow list countries positive for Delta.

The increase, mostly in domestic traffic, was attributed to the government's Covid19 response as new coronavirus infection cases in the National Capital Region (NCR) and other parts of the country continue to decline, as more people are vaccinated against the virus.

IATF described all 17 regions in the country as “minimal risk” for Covid-19 infection resulting to opening of borders, and lifting up of travel restrictions, while all island groups showed plateauing in the case trend.

PH Revised Entry Requirements For Green Listed Countries

Reclassifies Hong Kong, Dubai, etc., To Yellow

30 November 2021

The Inter-Agency Task Force for Emerging and Infectious Diseases (IATF) has revised entry protocols from "Green" Listed Countries effective December 1, 2021.

Eligible travelers to the Philippines from “Green” list countries will now be subjected to the same quarantine and testing protocols that apply to arrivals from countries in the “Yellow” list beginning midnight, Philippine time.

Arriving passengers from green countries who flies today or in transit towards Manila are not affected by entry restrictions.

“Except for countries classified as “Red,” the testing and quarantine protocols for all inbound international travelers in all ports of entry shall comply with the testing and quarantine protocols for “Yellow” list countries,” IATF announced today.

Philippine health authorities revised entry protocols to the country as new covid19 variant was discovered in South Africa and recorded in some European Countries, the Middle East and Hong Kong, causing the technical group to expand the list of “Red” countries on Nov. 28, 2021.

Eligible travelers to the Philippines from “Green” list countries will now be subjected to the same quarantine and testing protocols that apply to arrivals from countries in the “Yellow” list.

Travelers for example, from Hong Kong or Dubai, shall follow protocols for ‘Yellow’ countries.

Fully vaccinated Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and eligible foreigners arriving from countries in the green and yellow lists with negative RT-PCR tests taken within 72 hours prior departure are required to have facility-based quarantine until the release of their negative results, who should all undergo swabbing on the third day as well as self-monitoring until the 14th day of their arrival.

Those without a negative RT-PCR test should have facility-based quarantine until the release of their negative results, 5th day swabbing as well as home quarantine until the 10th day from arrival.

Travelers who are un-vaccinated, partially vaccinated or whose vaccination status cannot be independently validated are required to have facility-based quarantine until the release of their negative results, 7th day swabbing and home quarantine until the 14th day from arrival.

The revised Red List now includes South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Eswatini and Mozambique, Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, The Netherlands, Switzerland, Belgium and Italy.

Inbound international travel shall not be allowed for all persons, regardless of vaccination status, coming from or who have been to Red List countries within the last 14 days prior to arrival to any port of the Philippines.

Only Filipinos returning to the country via government-initiated or non-government-initiated repatriation and Bayanihan Flights may be allowed entry subject to the prevailing entry, testing, and quarantine protocols for Red List countries — facility-based quarantine for 14 days with testing on the 7th day, with day 1 being the date of arrival, notwithstanding a negative RT-PCR result.

The IATF has also suspended the entry of fully vaccinated foreign tourists of non-visa required countries from Green List countries.

Netherlands on Red List

So Why is KLM Still Flying to MNL?

 23 November 2021

The Netherlands is on the red list classification by the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging and Infectious Diseases (IATF).

Under the covid entry restrictions to the Philippines, passengers from red listed countries are prohibited from entering the country.

If this was the case, then Dutch carrier KLM should not be flying to the Philippines from Amsterdam. So why is it still flying to the country via Bangkok despite its red status?

The answer isn't surprising.

IATF mandates that passengers who have been to, or are originating from, a 'Red List' country within the last 14 days will NOT BE ALLOWED TO ENTER THE PHILIPPINES, unless they are RETURNING FILIPINOS traveling on government-initiated, non-government-initiated, and Bayanihan repatriation flights. 

So does it mean it will only transport Filipinos home? Not necessarily.

Also exempted are diplomats and their dependents, EU nationals who hold long term residence visa in the country, and other cross-border workers. They are also allowed to enter the country.

Passengers who merely transited via Amsterdam Schipol airport to Manila (i.e., stopover at the airport only without immigration admission into a red list country) will also not be deemed as having been to this 'Red List' country. Such passengers will need to present their ticket or boarding pass upon arrival to the Philippine Immigration officials.

Since almost all its passengers are Filipinos coming from different parts of the EU who is required or mandated to fly home it basically makes KLM a local carrier doing "bayanihan flights". It sometimes carry a different flight number to Manila to highlight its charter status.

And so KLM flies all Filipinos home from Amsterdam to Manila. To qualify for flight exemption though, It must not changed its pilots and flight crew on its way to Manila. They must stay on the aircraft while at the airport waiting for embarkation. So KLM carries the return crew for flight home on the same flight. There is no quarantine restriction on its flight home other than the digital covid19 vaccination certificate, and the negative RT-PCR infection test.

The airline arrangement on the carriage of the return crew is not uncommon at this time of pandemic, as Philippine Airlines does the same thing for its flights to Australia, New Zealand and the UK.

Returning Filipinos and EU resident workers who originate from the Netherlands must undergo a fourteen (14)-day quarantine period (10 days at quarantine hotels/facilities plus home quarantine for the next days until completion). They will have to undergo an RT-PCR test on the seventh day (the date of arrival being the first day).

The Netherlands will be on the red list together with Faroe Islands from the period November 16 to 30, 2021.

Local Carriers To Increase Flights To The Middle East

Quarantine for Passengers from Yellow List Countries Only 

22 November 2021

Local carriers Philippine Airlines, Inc. (PAL) and Cebu Pacific (CEB) has announced it will add more flights from the Middle East to the Philippines in the next two weeks after the government approved easing of quarantine restrictions for returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and leisure travelers from green-listed countries last week.

PAL on its part said it will also increase flights to various Asian countries listed on the green  zone as more overseas Filipinos are expected to fly home next month.

 PAL said it recently brought in more than 10,000 overseas Filipinos by using alternate gateways such as Cebu, Bohol, Subic and Davao to prevent the cancellation of their flights.

“These include our recent rerouting of flights from Bangkok to Panglao; Dubai to Subic, Davao or Cebu; Los Angeles and San Francisco to Cebu; Kuala Lumpur to Laoag; Doha to Subic; and other routes,” the flag carrier said in a statement.

The airline however said that increase flights to the United States, Canada and Australia may be possible in December as the Inter Agency Task Force for Emerging and Infectious Diseases (IATF) removed quarantine protocols to fully vaccinated passengers from green listed countries who test negative from covid19 infections on their arrival to the country under Resolution No. 149-A.

With the easing up of quarantine protocols from green countries, more passengers from yellow listed countries can be accommodated to quarantine facilities in Manila, Cebu, Davao, Clark, Subic, Laoag, and Panglao.

Manila quarantine facility capacity has been raised last week from 4,000 passengers to 6,000 passengers per day to accommodate additional flights from yellow listed countries. Meanwhile, Cebu, Davao, Clark, Subic and Panglao quarantine facilities were also increased to 4,000 from the previous 2,000 to address passenger traffic from yellow listed countries such as the United States, Canada, and Australia.

Passengers from green listed countries does not count from quarantine limit beginning 22 November as they will not undergo facility-based quarantine restrictions, unlike those from yellow listed countries.

Local airlines previously lament that more alternative gateways in the country need to be opened due to the Manila arrival limits. This has been addressed by the IATF last week, requiring facility-based quarantine protocols only for passengers arriving from yellow list countries.

Travel from red-list countries, such as Amsterdam

PH Opens Shores to Foreigners

Welcomes Tourists from Green List Countries 

Gate Opens November 22

19 November 2021

The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) has approved the entry of vaccinated foreign leisure travelers or Tourist from green listed countries effective November 22. 

They will be required to submit the same negative RT-PCR test result taken 72 hours before date of departure.

Presidential spokesperson Karlo Nograles confirmed that government reconsidered its position and issued  IATF Resolution 149-A, allowing also the entry of fully vaccinated foreigners who tested negative for COVID-19 using an RT-PCR test within 72 hours prior to arrival, provided they come from countries on the green list.

Previously, only Filipinos, Diplomats, and Foreign residents are permitted entry into the country with negative RT-PCR test results.

"We are calibrating steps in reopening our economy since tourism is a huge part of our growth," Nograles said during a briefing in Malacañang.

Leisure travelers from Yellow list countries are still prohibited from entering the country, according to Nograles.

IATF also increase entry restrictions to the country to 10,000 passengers per day to accommodate foreign tourists arrivals from green list countries.

PH Eases Quarantine Restrictions

 Defers Decision For US, EU, Canada Yet Again

17 November 2021

The Philippine Government eases quarantine restrictions to Green Listed Countries, according to the latest issuance by the National Task Force for Emerging and Infectious Diseases, approved by the President today.

Passengers traveling from Green Listed countries to the Philippine will no longer stay at quarantine hotels effective today.

Yellow listed countries such as the United States, Canada, European Union, Australia, and New Zealand, together with other countries not on the green or red lists are still required to undergo 5 day mandatory quarantine at the hotel of their choice. Previously, they are required to undergo facility based quarantine for 14 days, and take RT-PCR test on the seventh day of their arrival.

IATF said covid19 infections on these yellow listed countries remained high and the risk of infections to Filipinos severe, based on infection data presented by the Bureau of Quarantine on the arriving Filipinos from yellow list countries, including the US, Canada, and the EU.

Meanwhile, the IATF approved the recommendation of the Department of Foreign Affairs for the national COVID-19 vaccination certificates of Australia, Czech Republic, Georgia, India, Japan, The Netherlands, United Kingdom, Turkey, and Samoa to be accepted or recognized for purposes of arrival quarantine protocols, as well as for interzonal/intrazonal movement.

Fully vaccinated Filipinos coming from Green List areas need only to present a negative RT-PCR test result taken within 72 hours prior to departure from the country of origin, and will no longer be required to undergo a facility-based quarantine.

Another option is for them to take an RT-PCR test upon arrival, and undergo a facility-based quarantine until after the release of a negative test result.

Fully vaccinated foreign nationals allowed to enter the Philippines from Green List areas are also required to present a negative RT-PCR test result within 72 hours prior to departure from the origin country and will no longer be required to undergo a facility-based quarantine upon arrival.

Currently, only Filipinos, balikbayan, and resident foreigners with valid and existing visas are allowed to enter the country.

PAF Intensifies Vaccine Distribution

 As Duterte Orders Expedite Delivery to 7,000 Islands

11 November 2021

Disgusted by poor rollout of the Provincial Governments distribution of Covid19 vaccines to the Municipalities, President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered Secretary of Defense Delfin Lorenzana in Malacanang Tuesday, to expedite transport of vaccines to far flung Municipalities directly by air, bypassing regional and provincial centers.

The directive came after a 148,000 coronavirus disease-2019 (Covid-19) vaccine doses were destroyed in Pagadian City by fire without it being distributed to Municipalities of the Province.

President Duterte has also ordered the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to sanction local government units (LGUs) and local chief executives performing poorly in relation to their respective coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccination program rollout.

(I can’t pinpoint what we’re doing wrong if there really is something wrong. Why is the vaccination rollout slow? At the national level, it’s okay. The problem is in the provincial and regional level),” he said in a pre-recorded public address aired Wednesday morning.

He then instructed Lorenzana to transport the vaccines directly to the Municipal level using AFP assets as distribution tend to bogged down at the Regional or Provincial levels.

Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año said the investigation will be conducted by the Department of Health (DOH), Philippine National Police (PNP), and the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) along with the DILG.

Ano told the President that they are already looking into the possibility of investigating the localities conducting snail-paced vaccination processes to expedite the filing of the appropriate sanctions against them if it is proven that they were negligent or had committed lapses.

The DILG chief issued the warning after the President ordered him to hold local government units and local chief executives accountable for poor performance in the Covid-19 vaccination rollout.

PAL Vaccine Run

 3 November 2021

The Philippines sent its biggest plane to Moscow to secure covid19 vaccines when it procured 2.7 million doses of Sputnik V on Tuesday afternoon as the government intends to inject between 1 and 1.5 million doses daily beginning next week.

Overall, the Philippines has received 108,912,460 doses of the Covid-19 vaccine, both procured and donated.

PAL has been contracted by government to fly vaccines from Beijing to Moscow home. See our earlier report here. 

President Rodrigo Duterte earlier urged local government units to speed up their vaccination drives to meet the government's goal of achieving population protection by the end of the year and open back the economy.

To date, the Philippines has administered 59,473,662 doses of Covid-19 vaccines nationwide, with 27,442,969 already fully protected, which is still below the WHO herd immunity guidelines.
 

The country has received a total of 4,390,000 doses from Russia-based manufacturer.

IATF Increases Passenger Entry To 6,000

Doubles Entry For Filipinos

31 October 2021

The National Task Force on Emerging and Infectious Diseases (NTF-IATF) has approved the easing of entry restrictions to the Philippines on Thursday, as Covid19 transmission in Metro Manila continue to decline.

From passenger cap of 2,500 passengers per day, IATF has now increase the quarantine capacity to 6,000 passengers upon recommendation of the Technical Working Group (TWG) headed by DOTr. 

Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) will double its capacity from 1,200 passengers to 3,000, while Mactan Cebu will double entry capacity from 1,000 to 2,000 passengers per day. The 1,000 passenger increase is allocated to Clark, Subic, and Davao.

The government also approved international transit of passengers between terminal 1, terminal 2 and terminal 3 of NAIA, the new quarantine regulation discloses.

International transit was previously available only in Terminal 2 for green listed countries. Now it included yellow listed countries.

Philippine Airlines (PAL) are transiting international passengers from the United States to Southeast Asia. 

Transit of international passengers between terminals are required to be done airside.

The IATF also approved the increase capacity of all public utility vehicles from fifty percent to seventy percent capacity effective Monday.

Entry to the Philippines by foreign passport holders is still restricted.

More Domestic Destinations eases Entry Requirements

27 October 2021

Bohol, Roxas and Cebu City has join the list of domestic destinations that have simplified travel entry requirements and do not require RT-PCR (reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction) or antigen testing.

They joined the following cities that eases travel requirements for vaccinated passengers.

PH Opens Vaccinated Filipinos From US Sans Quarantine

Beginning 8 November

23 October 2021

The National Task Force for Emerging and Infectious Diseases (NTF-IATF) will pilot a test to allow vaccinated passenger from North America to do away with quarantine restrictions beginning November 8 as the United States lift COVID-19 travel restrictions for fully vaccinated international visitors.

New entry restrictions will expand to other green and yellow listed countries beginning November 15.

Arriving passengers will no longer be required to book quarantine hotels but still be subject to RT-PCR testing after arrival into the country.

Philippine Airlines, Inc. (PAL) earlier proposed to pilot test a “no facility quarantine protocol” for vaccinated passengers from North America.

The policy will cover “North American vaccinated passengers arriving in the Philippines and Filipinos fully vaccinated in the Philippines who traveled to North America and are returning to the country,” PAL Senior Vice-President for Strategy Dexter C. Lee said.

The proposal was adopted by IATF Technical Working Group  after the National Capital Region (NCR) recorded a 90% vaccination rate against covid19, which resulted to downward trend on infections.

The coronavirus reproduction number in the NCR has dropped to 0.46 from 0.59 last week, the OCTA Research Group reported Friday. 

The coronavirus reproduction number also dropped to 0.46 from 0.59 last week, according to OCTA.

The propose policy however will still exclude non-Filipinos on non-essential travel as restrictions on entry of foreigners other than Filipino spouses and family members, residents, and diplomats remained in place . 

The new travel restrictions will be announce next week.

Flight Ban From 10 Countries Recalled

Opens flight from UAE, Oman, Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia

7 September 2021

The Department of Health (DOH) on Monday lifted the restrictions on travel of passengers from 10 countries, saying border control and quarantine measures are now in place.

The travel restrictions on India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia were lifted on Monday and place on “Yellow List” after President Rodrigo Duterte approved the recommendation of the COVID-19 task force over the weekend.

IATF adopted the “Yellow” and “Red” classifications, in addition to the “Green List” for countries/territories/jurisdictions based on their respective incidence rates.

Direct flights to Manila are being offered by flag carriers of United Arab Emirates, Oman, Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia, together with flights from Philippine flag carriers.

Meanwhile, indirect flights from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Nepal, were likewise lifted as COVID-19 situation in these countries improved to more manageable level.

Inbound travelers from areas on the "Yellow list," regardless of their vaccination status, will undergo a 14-day quarantine upon arrival, with the first 10 days at a quarantine facility and the remaining four days under home quarantine.

They will also have RT-PCR testing on the seventh day, counting the day of their arrival as Day 1.

PH Re-imposes Entry Restrictions

Limits 1,500 international passenger Arrivals

17 March 2021 

The Philippines re-imposes entry restrictions into the country of foreigners after recording massive spikes of Covid19 infections in Metro Manila.

Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. announced that incoming international flights would be allowed to carry only up to 1,500 passengers per day in a bid to control the new surge in infections in the country.

"Nakikita rin po natin iyong variant, ito po ang isang factor. So, ngayon ang ginawa po natin dahil nakita po natin na iyong ating mga OFW at saka mga ROF at saka mayroon tayong tinatawag na mga foreigner na pumupunta po sa atin dito, so ngayon ang ginawa po natin ay hinigpitan po natin ngayon ang ating inbound passengers. So, ngayon, ini-limit po natin sa 1,500," said Galvez at Malacanang's regular public briefing. 

According to National Task Force Against COVID-19 (NTF COVID-19) on Tuesday, Foreign nationals and non-Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) returnees are temporarily barred from entering the country beginning March 20 to April 19.

The temporary entry ban to the country does not include seaman's visa holders, those involved in medical repatriation and their escort/s that are both endorsed by the Department of Foreign Affairs-Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers and Affairs (DFA-OUMWA) or the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, distressed ROFs endorsed by the DFA-OUMWA, those with emergency, humanitarian, and other analogous cases approved by the NTF COVID-19.