Tourism and Foreign Travel

Question from Email: Any updates related to arrival rules for Foreign National after July 01, 2020 when NCR hopefully goes into mGCG? I am an American Filipino dual citizen. If however, I have a RT-PCR or Rapid Antibody -Based Test negative test result (certificate) done/obtained here in the US 5-7 days before arrival in the Philippines, will that be accepted and therefore will NOT need to do Hotel Quarantine and be allowed to go home direct from the airport?

Answer: (June 16, 2020)

Since you can be classified as locally stranded individual (LSI) you can apply for a travel authority from the nearest police station in your area. A Medical Clearance Certification to be issued by the City/Municipal Health Office is needed by the police to consider your request for travel pass. The clearance is based on the following conditions: 1) That the LSI is neither a contact, a suspect or probable or confirmed COVID-19 case; that the LSI completed a 14-day quarantine based on the quarantine standards set by the DOH or that the LSI confirmed as a COVID-19 case was tested negative through a RT-PCR twice. But, take note that in both Samar and Quezon City, seniors and those below 21 years old are under strict home quarantine and are not allowed to go out. It is best to sound out first the police if you can be given an exemption before you get a medical clearance as it has limited validity. For clarification call the PNP Helpline 16677. https://www.covid19.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/dilg-memocircular-2020520_87.pdf; . https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1273099/covid-19-task-force-warns-against-unnecessary-travel-if-ecq-is-lifted and https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1102544

Question from Facebook: Kailan po magrereopen ang domestic flights from and to Manila?

Answer: (May 19, 2020)

Kinansela ng mga pangunahing airlines na nag-ooperate sa Ninoy Aquino International Airport ang kanilang mga domestic at international flights sa buong buwan ng Mayo habang ang Metro Manila ay naka-lockdown pa rin hanggang Mayo 31. Antbayanan ang kanilang notice para sa muling pagbabalik-operasyon ng mga ito. May ilang local airlines, gayunman, ang pinayagan na magsagawa ng sweeper flights, mercy flights and repatriation flights para sa mga stranded na pasahero lokal man o mga foreigners, at overseas Filipino workers. Ang mga cargo, medical, maintenance, weather mitigation, government at military flights ay pinapayagan din. Makipag-ugnayan sa inyong airline sa dagdag na impormasyon gaya ng rebooking, refund at iba pang dapat gawin.

Source: https://business.inquirer.net/297223/major-ph-airlines-suspend-flights-anew-till-may-31

Question from Email: I have a flight this May 27 going to Netherlands for some kind of emergency, My aunt had a mild stroke and this is the reason why she need assistance at their home cuz her husband will be working and they don’t have children, The embassy of Netherlands gave me 3 months to stay and it will expire within 1 year, So can I leave Philippines even the embassy didn’t allowed tourist visa holder to go out? I have complete papers to show.

Answer: (May 7, 2020)

“Whether you could leave the country or not on May 27 depends on whether the enhanced community quarantine for Metro Manila will be extended again or downgraded to a general community quarantine. There are no flights allowed during the ECQ, except for repatriation or sweeper flights for returning Filipinos and foreigners, cargo flights and medical-related flights. Flights allowed during a GCQ include international flights subject to existing protocols of the Inter-agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases or Bureau of Quarantine. You may get in touch with the Netherlands Embassy in Manila to further assist you in your situation. The consular is closed due to the COVID-19 outbreak, but you can email [email protected] or call +63287866666 or the 24/7 contact center at +31 (0) 247 247 247. You can also visit the official website of the embassy https://www.netherlandsandyou.nl/your-country-and-the-netherlands/philippines for get updates and further information.

Sources: https://dotr.gov.ph/55-dotrnews/1336-summary-of-the-iatf-dotr-guidelines-for-the-aviation-transport-sector-in-areas-under-the-general-community-quarantine-gcq.html and https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1267581/dotr-wants-strict-public-transport-protocols-in-gcq-areas 

Question from Email: We are stranded in Albay – composed of 6 people, 4 adults (one is senior citizen) and 2 kids. We have all the requirements such as medical certification from barangay and even from the DOH here in Albay. However, the respective point person in Cavite LGU – where we are headed to, said that they cannot issue a letter of acceptance because our group has a senior citizen and kids. Can they really decline us with that reason?

Answer: (May 4, 2020)

To get exemption from the strict home quarantine for senior citizens and children and to facilitate your travel across border checkpoints, you may get in touch with the office of the nearest punong barangay, municipal/city mayor or governor of Albay to ask for assistance. LGU heads are supposed to help the stranded, including providing transportation for them. Interior Secretary Eduardo Ano has tasked city mayors and other LGU heads in DILG memorandum circular no. 2020-062 to provide transportation to stranded persons and to those needing to go to hospitals or clinics and that “the LGU may coordinate with other LGUs for the transport of said persons.” For any complaints against local officials on the implementation of the enhanced community quarantine against COVID, you can contact the Department of Interior and Local Government Emergency Operations Center hotlines: 02-8876-3454 local 8806/8810 or 02-8925-0343.

Question from Email: My friend (boat captain) and his partner have been stuck in a yacht since the ECQ and as per ECQ regulation has not moved the vessel and remained at sea. Both passengers are in fine health. With the lockdown continuing and the change in season, it is dangerous for the vessel to remain where it is. My friend wishes to travel to Palawan, away from the southwest monsoon and where there are other yachts, and where the vessel can stay for as long as it takes and abide by all the ECQ requirements. From whom can he seek permission to move his vessel from one region to another?

Answer: (April 22, 2020)

Philippine National Police spokesperson Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac told the Inquirer that the couple should contact the local Philippine Coast Guard to help them depart their current location and head to their next destination. 

Question from Email: I was granted a French long-stay visa serving as a residence permit. Based on the website of the embassy of France, I am allowed to enter France in the middle of the pandemic. Will I also be allowed to leave the Philippines? Will I still need any document to show to Immigration?

Answer: (April 20, 2020)

Based on the travel restrictions advisory by the Bureau of Immigration updated on March 17, only foreign nationals, permanent residents, student visa holders and OFWs are allowed to exit the country via any port in Luzon. You may want to get in touch with the BI to check if a long stay visa serving as a residence permit will be a compliance to the permanent resident requirement. You may send a private message on their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/immigration.helpline.ph/ or send an email at [email protected]. Indicate your complete name, date of birth, and contact details, and your concern. For urgent queries or concerns after office hours, weekends and non-working days, you may call the Bureau of Immigration National Operations Center (BINOC) hotline numbers (632) 8465-2400 or (632) 8524-3769.

Question from Email: Pauwi po kami sa Pilipinas ng May 18 at babalik ng June 3 sa Amerika para sunduin ang aming bunsong anak. Kailangan pa ba kaming i-quarantine sa Manila pagdating o pwede na kami dumiretso agad sa Pangasinan?

Answer: (April 18, 2020)

Please monitor updates on the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) as another extension may be possible if the surge in the number of COVID-19 cases continues, according to Interior Secretary Eduardo Año. Under the current ECQ protocol, the Bureau of Quarantine in the airport will decide if you must undergo a 14-day quarantine in a designated facility or at home. This process could continue if the ECQ is extended. However, if the lockdown period ends by April 30, it is advisable that individuals from abroad undergo a self-quarantine as the virus incubation period can last up to 14 days.

Source: https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1260189/lockdown-to-possibly-extend-after-april-30-if-covid-19-cases-increase-dilg-chief-says

Question from Email: Can the government require the airlines to give full refund? They only provide free rebooking and refund to travel fund, but people need money now and I personally won’t be travelling anytime soon for at least a year or two.

Answer: (April 15, 2020)

The Department of Transportation told the Inquirer that a passenger can ask for a refund of their tickets if their flights have been suspended due to the government’s implementation of an enhanced community quarantine in Luzon. The DOTr said passengers can demand refund for cancelled trips as stated in the Passenger’s Rights. 

Question from Email: My mom will travel from Japan, stopover in South Korea, and arrive in the PH. Does she need to undergo 14-day self-quarantine? She will only stay in Manila for a week and then go back to Japan. Is she required to finish the 14 days?

Answer: (April 12, 2020)

The Bureau of Quarantine stationed at the airport will check all arriving Filipinos from abroad and decide if they must undergo a 14-day quarantine in a facility or at home, according to the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration. If asked to do home quarantine, it is only after the 14-day isolation that they should receive a clearance from the local health office.

Source: https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1254540/iatf-on-ofws

Question from Email: For foreigners in the Philippines who will be overstaying their visas due to the quarantine, will we be able to fly out and not get arrested at the airport? We also cannot get the visas extended anyway at this point, as we are told the office here is closed. Do you have any idea who might be able to give me a more concrete answer on that?

Answer: (March 28, 2020)

Outbound passengers intending to depart the Philippines from any of the international airports in Luzon during the enhanced community quarantine can apply for visa extension. The Bureau of Immigration said it will maintain a skeletal workforce to cater to outbound passengers who wish to depart the Philippines. Outbound passengers will be required to present their outbound tickets prior to entry at immigration offices and the bureau shall waive payment of fines and penalties related to visa extension application of all outbound passengers whose visa has expired during the period of the community quarantine. 

Immigration Helpline PH Facebook: @immigration.helpline.ph

Directory of immigration offices: https://www.immigration.gov.ph/images/DirectoryOfTransactions/2020_Yr/2020Jan28_Subport.pdf and https://immigration.gov.ph/images/Advisory/2020/03_Mar/2020Mar27_advisory.pdf

Question from Email: Do travelers need to present a COVID19-free certificate in the airport like in Thailand?

Answer: (March 27 2020)

Earlier, there were countries like Taiwan and Kuwait which asked Filipinos to bring along medical certificates stating they were free from Covid-19 upon arrival. But Kuwait has withdrawn this requirement. But both Kuwait and Taiwan along with several countries like Qatar have barred the entry of foreigners, including the Philippines, in a bid to stop the spread of Covid-19.

Source: https://globalnation.inquirer.net/186012/qatar-kuwait-travel-limits-due-to-coronavirus-to-affect-3000-ofws-poea

Question from Facebook: How about Filipino tourists who are now stranded in Visayas who wants to go back to Manila. Can we at least get transportation and exemption to enter Luzon and our respective cities? Note that the goventment already extended help to foreign tourist. How about Filipinos with limited funds and no where to go to?

Answer: (March 27 2020)

Sweeper flights carrying stranded passengers have been mounted from Siargao, Iloilo, Tacloban, Cagayan de Oro, Davao and Puerto Princesa. The Department of Tourism (DOT) has been coordinating with local government units, local airport and airline staff, the Civil Aviation Authority and the interior, defense and transportation departments for recovery flights, transportation, meals, and accommodation for the stranded tourists. Meanwhile, DOT regional offices are facilitating the transport of travelers by land in Luzon and by sea with inter-island vessels, like the Philippine Coast Guard boats used to sail tourists from the islands of Bohol, Siguijor, and Negros to Cebu. Also arranged were shuttle services and hotel accommodations provided to some stranded tourists. Free food and hygienic items, called MalasaKits, were distributed at the NAIA terminals.

Sources: https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1243720/covid-19-quarantine-we-wont-allow-tourists-to-be-stranded-in-ph-dot; https://www.tourism.gov.ph/news_features/RecoveryFlights.aspx and https://www.tourism.gov.ph/news_features/DOTResponseTeams.aspx

Question from Viber: Is there a memorandum from DOLE stating that employers should not deduct from employees’ leave credits if they can’t commute to work because of the Enhanced Community Quarantine?

Answer: (March 26, 2020)

There is no memorandum from DOLE that asks employers not to deduct from the leave credits of employees. DOLE only released guidelines on flexible work arrangements (FWA) like the work from home scheme and issued a statement appealing to employers to avoid retrenchment of employees amid the COVID-19 outbreak. DOLE may also provide financial assistance to workers in the private companies that have adopted FWAs or temporary closure through the COVID-19 Adjustment Measures CAMP. Please refer to guidelines for CAMP at https://www.dole.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/labor-advisory-no.-12-1.pdf.

Sources: https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/295384/dole-to-provide-financial-aid-to-covid-19-affected-workers; https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1243694/dole-asks-big-firms-to-shoulder-needs-of-workers-as-it-focuses-on-informal-sector; https://www.dole.gov.ph/news/statement-of-secretary-silvestre-h-bello-iii-march-19-2020/ and https://www.dole.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Labor-Advisory-No.-09-20-Guidelines-on-the-Implementation-of-Flexible-Work-Arrangements-as-Remedial-Measure-due-to-the-Ongoing-Outbreak-of-Coronavirus-Disease-2019-COVID-19.pdf

Question from Facebook: Regarding the suspension of issuance of visa and cancellation of previously issued visa, does it include those tourist visa holders who are currently here in the Philippines?

Answer: (March 25, 2020)

Last March 22, the Inter-agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases stated that the government’s suspension of the issuance of visas only apply to all foreign nationals abroad who want to enter the country.

Source: https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1246653/iatf-lays-down-new-requirements-exemptions-to-luzon-wide-lockdown/

Question from Facebook: Where can we get info for foreign visitors who want to go back to their country? Who should we contact?

Answer: (March 25, 2020)

Based on the Luzon Enhanced Community Quarantine Basic Do’s and Dont’s bulletin no.1 dated March 18,2020, foreign nationals shall be allowed to leave the Philippines at any time as long as their departure is 24 hours from the time they leave their homes or hotels.

Source: https://twitter.com/inquirerdotnet/status/1230135898215440387