The government has revised its testing and quarantine protocols for Filipino citizens and eligible non-Filipinos arriving in the Philippines from countries where travel restrictions are in place due to new COVID-19 variants.
This was according to the advisory which PAL issued this morning, Jan. 23, 2021.
Effective today (January 23, 2021), these passengers shall be given RT-PCR testing upon arrival, with an option to avail of a second swab test on their 5th day of quarantine.
Passengers arriving in the Philippines are required to register on Case Investigation Forms depending on their traveler type and port of entry.
Passengers arriving in Cebu (Mactan Cebu International Airport or MCIA), are required to register online not earlier than five days prior to their flight departure via the Passenger Arrival Registration Form.
Passengers arriving in Clark must download and fill out the required forms.
OFWs arriving in Manila have to undergo swab testing on arrival. This will be carried out by the government One Stop Shop, free of charge.
For non-OFWs and eligible non-Filipinos arriving in Manila, swab testing will be carried out by the PAL One Stop Shop for a fee of P4,000. (Discounts for Sr.Citizens and PWDs apply)
Passengers will then proceed to their respective quarantine facilities or hotels.
When passengers swabbed under the PAL OSS receive a negative test, they shall receive an email providing them the option to either avail of a second swab test by PAL testing partner Detoxicare Molecular and Diagnostics Laboratory on the 5th day of quarantine or to continue their quarantine stay up to the 14th day.
Passengers who choose to avail of the second swab test by Detoxicare will register on the email. They may pre-pay online or onsite. The pre-payment link is included in the e-mail.
OFW passsengers swabbed under the government OSS will be guided accordingly by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).
Once the second swab test is administered on the 5th day of quarantine, passengers must continue their hotel/facility stay and await results.
A passenger who tests negative on the second swab test must register via the DOH-BOQ Certificate Page to receive his/her quarantine and medical certificate.
The passenger will present the two negative test results and the certificate for clearance and check out from the hotel.
Completion of the 14-day quarantine at home under the monitoring of one's Local Government Unit is highly encouraged.
A passenger who tests positive on the second swab test will be provided proper guidance by the BOQ on the succeeding steps.
PAL passengers swabbed under the PAL OSS and who are already in quarantine for a minimum of 5 days will receive an e-mail providing them the option to either avail of a second swab test by PAL testing partner Detoxicare Molecular and Diagnostics Laboratory, or to continue their quarantine stay up to the 14th day.
Effective January 23 and onwards, RT-PCR testing for passengers on their 5th day of quarantine in stringent quarantine hotels will be rolled out.
The Philippine government's latest directive also expanded the coverage of exemptions from current restrictions on inbound travel to the Philippines from countries with cases of the UK covid variant.
Those exempted from the passenger ban on inbound travel to the Philippines include foreign nationals with valid visas, which include personnel of accredited international organizations.
Spouses and minor children of Filipino citizens traveling with them are exempted as well as persons arriving for medical and emergency cases, including their medical escorts.
These passengers are now subject to applicable testing and quarantine protocols as prescribed by the Department of Health (DOH).
The government is relaxing age-based restrictions for areas placed under Modified General Community Quarantine (MGCQ) beginning February 1, 2021.
Persons below ten years old and those who are over sixty-five shall be required to remain in their residence at all times.
Local government units (LGUs), on the other hand, are enjoined to adopt the same relaxation of age-restrictions for areas under General Community Quarantine (GCQ).