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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Lack of COVID-19 quarantine hotels forces flight diversion from Cebu to Manila

Lack of COVID-19 quarantine hotels forces flight diversion from Cebu to Manila

Published May 28, 2021 12:40 pm

The government is moving to increase the availability of quarantine hotels and other facilities in Cebu once its airport would temporarily stop accepting international flights starting this Saturday, May 29.

The Mactan-Cebu International Airport Terminal 2. (Photo by Juan Carlo de Vela/ MANILA BULLETIN)

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque admitted that the lack of quarantine facilities for returning Filipinos in Cebu prompted the diversion of international flights to Manila from May 29 to June 5.

Authorities intend to use this period to shore up the quarantine facilities as well as finalize the arrival protocols in Cebu, he added.

"Wala naman defiance. Ang nangyari sa Cebu naubusan sila ng hotel at ngayon lang naaprubahan ng DOT (Department of Tourism) na magkaroon ng mixed use sa kanilang mga hotels (There is no defiance. What happened was Cebu ran out of hotels and it is only now the DOT approved mixed use of its hotels)," Roque said over government television Friday, May 28.

"Panandalian lang 'yan at inaasahan natin na maaayos ang sistema at magkakaroon na tayo ng sapat na hotel rooms diyan sa Cebu (It is just temporary and we expect to fix the system and secure sufficient hotel rooms in Cebu)," he said.

The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) earlier recommended that all international flights bound for the Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) shall be diverted to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) from May 29 to June 5.

Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea issued a memorandum directing concerned government agencies to implement the latest flight diversion to NAIA. He said the Department of Transportation, through its attached agencies, and the Manila International Airport Authority must “ensure the smooth diversion of inbound flights.”

READ: Gov't to divert Cebu-bound int'l flights to NAIA

Prior to the issuance of the Palace memorandum, Roque said Cebu airport was closed to international flights for two days mid-May due to lack of quarantine rooms for arriving overseas Filipino workers and other returning Filipinos.

"Habang inaayos lang 'yan, ire-reroute muna ang mga flights (While the issue is being addressed, the flights will be re-routed)," he said.

Roque said international travelers diverted to NAIA would have to undergo the testing and quarantine protocols upon arrival in Manila.

"Well, dahil nga po rerouted lahat ng flights kinakailangan dito po sila mag-quarantine muna bago sila pauuwiin ng Cebu (Because all flights are rerouted, they have to undergo quarantine before they can go home to Cebu)," he added.

Under the government's rules, all incoming international travelers regardless of vaccination status must undergo a 14-day quarantine upon arrival, including the first 10 days at a quarantine facility.

The arriving passengers must also take a reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test on the seventh day of quarantine.

Related Tags

Cebu airport quarantine hotels international flights divert shortage NAIA IATF
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