No flights for returning overseas Filipinos for 2 days at MCIA
CEBU CITY – The Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) will not accept flights carrying returning overseas Filipinos (ROFs) from Friday, May 14, to Saturday, May 15.
Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia announced the decision Thursday after a meeting with Department of Health-Central Visayas Director Jaime Bernadas, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Undersecretary Epimaco Densing, DILG Region 7 (Central Visayas) Regional Director Leocadio Trovela, and other government officials.
In a virtual press conference, Garcia said there was a need to temporarily close the Terminal 2 of MCIA as quarantine hotels in Cebu that are intended for ROFs are nearing full capacity.
“We have to temporarily stop accepting incoming flights because ROFs have no places to stay. Some flights have already been cancelled and that is why I have to call an emergency meeting today (Thursday),” the lady governor said.
According to Garcia, Cebu has 2,500 quarantine rooms from 35 hotels that were accredited as holding areas for ROFs with pending RT-PCR test results.
She said these quarantine hotels have been occupied due to an influx of ROFs transiting Cebu on their way to their respective destinations.
Also Thursday, Garcia issued a memorandum requiring incoming ROFs in Cebu to undergo RT-PCR test upon arrival.
Non-Cebu residents will have to complete a 10-day quarantine in designated hotels, even if they test negative of the infection. They will also undergo another round of swab tests on the seventh day of their isolation.
Cebu residents will only have to stay for a maximum of two days in isolation if they test negative of COVID-19. Those who will be tested positive for COVID-19 will be brought to a facility for treatment.