Flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) has issued reminders to the public regarding the travel requirements of non-Saudi nationals who will fly to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).
According to PAL, KSA-bound passengers must provide a negative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test result for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) no later than 72 hours before the scheduled departure to the Kingdom.
A printed certificate from a verified lab must include the passenger’s name, passport number or identification card in order to verify the person.
Passengers shall also be required to obtain medical insurance that covers the risk of COVID-19 infection. Upon arrival in KSA, they will undergo institutional quarantine for seven days at an institutional quarantine facility licensed by the Ministry of Tourism.
They would also have to take an RT-PCR test within 24 hours of their arrival and again on the seventh day to confirm whether or not they have symptoms before checking out of the institutional quarantine facility.
Last week, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) announced that it had received assurance from the Saudi government that the cost of the institutional quarantine would be shouldered by the employers and recruitment agencies, and not by the oversees Filipino worker (OFW).