[ad_1]
ALL incoming international commercial flights will be temporarily suspended for a week to allow what the government cited as a need to decongest the country’s quarantine facilities and prevent further spread of Covid-19.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque clarified on Sunday that departure flights will still be allowed after the Manila International Airport Authority (Miaa) announced in a notice on its Facebook page on Saturday night the temporary suspension of “all commercial / passenger flights to and from the country beginning May 3.
“Yes outgoing Pwede [is allowed]”Roque said in a message to BusinessMirror.
Asked to confirm the final decision on the duration of the temporary suspension and whether the IATF needs to meet on this matter, Roque replied: “One week. That is the decision of the NTF (National Task Force against Covid-19) , no need for IATF from General [Carlito] Gálvez authorized it.
In a separate statement on Sunday, the chief secretary for National Task Force Implementation, Carlito Galvez Jr., announced that the NTF decided to temporarily restrict flight operations at Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila and all other international airports in the country.
However, he listed the following exceptions: emergencies along the way; cargo flights; air ambulance flights and medical supplies; climate mitigation flights; and maintenance flights.
“This decision is intended to decongest our quarantine facilities to protect our people by preventing the spread of Covid-19 and also to ensure that our Philippine Overseas (OFW) workers are well cared for when they arrive from abroad.” As of today, there are already approximately 20,000 OFWs in mandatory quarantine in Metro Manila, ”said Galvez.
Government agencies led by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) have actively repatriated tens of thousands of Filipinos displaced by the pandemic in their host countries. Most of those who returned in the past few days are crew members of dozens of cruise ships stranded at sea when governments imposed blockades and denied them docking rights. Returning OFWs must be quarantined for 14 days upon arrival.
Exceptions
Meanwhile, Gálvez, who added faster flights for foreign citizens returning to their respective countries, can continue and all domestic air arrivals and departures in Naia will remain suspended.
“The Philippine Civil Aviation Authority (Caap) added that international flights wishing to land and depart must request an exemption with the Caap Opcen (Operations Center) at least 36 hours before the scheduled departure from their place of origin,” said.
The general guidelines on the implementation of the community quarantine in the country, published last week, allowed land, air or sea travel by uniformed personnel and government officials and employees for official affairs, with the corresponding travel authority, especially those transporting supplies. medical and laboratory samples related to Covid-19 and other relief humanitarian aid.
The guidelines also established that OFWs, permanent residents of foreign jurisdictions, and stranded aliens may go abroad through any of the airports or seaports in areas located under Enhanced Community Quarantine or General Community Quarantine without any impediment.
Returned OFW or non-OFW returnees who have been issued a 14-day facility-based quarantine certificate, either from the Health Department or local government unit, or those required to do so Undergoing a mandatory 14-day home quarantine provides unimpeded transit through en route areas to their final destination in the Philippines, according to the guidelines.
Heeding the NTF order, the Caap previously suspended all domestic and international commercial flights to and from the Philippines for one week beginning at 8 am on Sunday (May 3).
The move, which was officially announced in a notice to Airmen (Notam), was made “to help further mitigate the spread of Covid-19,” Caap said in a statement.
The Caap said that nine international airports in the country will be covered by Notam: Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Davao International Airport, Clark International Airport, Iloilo International Airport, Mactan-Cebu International Airport, Zamboanga International Airport, International Airport of Kalibo, Laoag International Airport and Puerto Princesa International Airport.
“Cargo flights, sweeper flights, medical flights, utility flights and maintenance flights are exempt from suspension and will not be hindered,” Caap said.
OFWs remain in place
DFA Assistant Secretary Ed Meñes, in response to questions, said that, from the way he understands the new directives, “some arrivals (especially those already on the way) may still arrive, but after that,” meanwhile, no exceptions are expected. Outbound flights appear to be open, all also subject to existing restrictions. “
He said: “The repatriation efforts are being adjusted to comply with the guidelines of the National Task Force on Covid-19.”
Meñes said: “In the meantime, OFWs will remain where they are: many members of the ship’s crew are assisted by their crew agencies, some others check in at the embassy and then proceed to pick-up points or the airport when a For those who may already be at airports, they will receive the best assistance possible under the circumstances. “
PAL flights
Flagline Philippine Airlines (PAL), which was about to resume international flights, said: “We have had to cancel our special passenger flights from the US to Manila, departing on days 4-8. of May”.
“If you have already booked on any of the canceled flights, we will strive to book you on another special flight that operates after the airport’s closing period. All of these flights are subject to government approvals.”
Due to the latest developments, Gulf Air, scheduled to depart at 2 p.m., and Hong Kong Air (HX) would be the last aircraft to leave Naia for Hong Kong.
Gulf Air had landed at half past one in the afternoon with OFW stranded from Bahrain.
At the same time, the government said it can no longer accommodate more returning OFWs, including thousands of stranded seafarers on their respective cruises, due to a lack of quarantine sites.
Recto L. Mercene, Bernadette D. Nicolas
