The Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) will limit international arrivals to 1,500 daily starting March 18 to prevent the entry of new Covid-19 variants.
The restrictions will end on April 19, according to the National Task Force Against Covid-19 (NTF), saying the edict is aimed at preventing the rise of Covid-19 cases.
Also temporarily suspended is the entry of foreign nationals and returning overseas Filipinos (ROFs) who are non-OFWs, beginning March 20 until April 19 except: Holders of 9(c) visas, medical repatriation and their escorts duly endorsed by the Department of Foreign Affairs-Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant workers Affairs or the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration; and emergency, humanitarian, and other analogous cases approved by the NTF.
Bureau of Immigration (BI) officials and personnel posted at the NAIA welcomed the government’s decision to temporarily cut the number of inbound travelers from the previous 3,000 to 1,500 passengers per day.
The BI said the move “will lessen their exposure to the virus at this time when there is an upsurge of Covid-19 cases in the country.”
The agency responded to Memorandum Circular No. 5 dated March 16 and addressed to all concerned member agencies of the NTF. The memorandum stated that last March 15, the Philippines recorded 5,404 new Covid-19 cases, the highest in the last 6 months.
In view of this, the BI head office in Intramuros, Manila suspended its operations until Wednesday for the sanitation and disinfection activities to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
BI Commissioner Jaime Morente said the extended closure of the main building is “necessary to avoid intermittent delivery of services to the public and ensure that the bureau’s employees in the safest possible workplace.”
He advised those with booked online appointments to secure their new schedules when the main office reopens for business and to check the BI website and its social media accounts for updates.
Canceled flights
Local carriers Philippine Airlines (PAL), Cebu Pacific (CEB) and Air Asia Philippines were told to comply with the restriction issued by the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) related to international arrivals.
CEB announced on Wednesday that it will cancel the following flights from March 18 to April 18, 2021:
- Manila–Narita (Tokyo)–Manila
- Manila–Nagoya–Manila
The airline said affected passengers will be informed via contact details provided in the booking. Guests may select their preferred option through the Manage Booking portal on the Cebu Pacific website within 30 days from date of departure:
- Rebook for travel within 90 days without any additional cost (fare difference waived);
- Store the amount of ticket in a virtual wallet valid for 2 years and use this to either book a new flight or pay for add-ons (e.g. baggage allowance, seat selection); or
- Refund the amount of ticket. Due to the unprecedented volume of requests, CEB said the process will take as long as 7 months.
“Passengers who wish to voluntarily postpone their trips may conveniently rebook their flights up to 2 hours before their scheduled time of departure, following CEB’s permanent removal of change fees. A minimal fare difference may apply.”
PAL said it will operate its full international schedule for March 18 but it will announce in due course any flight cancellations on other days for the rest of the period.
The flag carrier said those who belong to the profile of passengers prohibited to arrive in the Philippines within the said period, will have to avail of any of the following options:
- Rebook on the flight of their choice (on the same cabin class) with rebooking service fees waived; or
- Refund their ticket cost; or
- Convert their tickets into a travel voucher for future use.
PAL Spokesperson Cielo Villaluna appealed to their clients for understanding as the carrier prepares to make adjustments in its operations to comply with the CAB directive.
Image credits: Business Mirror file photo
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