Reentry of foreign nationals allowed; aid for MSMEs sought
The Philippine government has allowed the reentry to the Philippines of foreign nationals who are already in the country and will be leaving starting December 17 as long as they have valid and existing visas.
Based on Resolution No. 89 of the Inter-agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, foreign nationals will be allowed to reenter the Philippines subject to the following conditions:
- They have valid and existing visa on the date of arrival
- With pre-booked quarantine facility
- With pre-booked COVID-19 testing at a laboratory operating at the airport
- Subject to the maximum capacity of inbound passengers at the port and date
of entry
The IATF has ordered the Bureau of Immigration (BI) to issue the guidelines on the reentry of foreign nationals.
The Commissioner of Immigration will have the "exclusive prerogative to decide on waiver or recall of exclusion orders for the above foreign nationals, including other foreign nationals who have entered the Philippines by virtue of Inter-Agency Task Force resolutions."
Meanwhile, considering the impact of COVID-19 on the economy, the IATF appealed to local government units (LGUs) to provide assistance to micro, small, and medium business establishments (MSMEs).
The LGUs are encouraged to provide regulatory relief assistance, such as but not limited to deferment of payment of deadlines for local government business fees to MSMEs who were not permitted to operate or adversely affected by the restrictions imposed under the different community quarantine classifications.
Golfing
The IATF has directed the National Golf Association of the Philippines (NGAP) to cease and desist in the expansion of permissible accessory activities in the golf clubs.
Based on IATF Resolution No. 89, the NGAP is ordered to cease from reopening locker rooms for golfers, among others, pending the review and approval of health protocols by the appropriate government agencies.
The NGAP is likewise ordered to transmit its proposed protocols for golf to the departments of Health (DOH) and Labor and Employment (DOLE) for vetting.