Aside from restricting the number of Manila-bound passenger arrivals from international flights to 1,500 a day for all airlines tomorrow (March 18), the government temporarily suspended the entry of Foreign Nationals and Returning Overseas Filipinos who are non-OFWs beginning 12:01AM this Saturday, March 20, up to April 19, 2021.
Those who are allowed to travel to the Philippines within the 30-day period include Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), holders of 9(e) visas (Diplomatic visa), passengers on medical repatriation and their escorts duly endorsed by the Department of Foreign Affairs - Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs or the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration.
Distressed Returning Overseas Filipinos (ROFs) duly endorsed by the Department of Foreign Affairs - Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs, as well as emergency, humanitarian and other cases approved by the National Task Force on Covid19 are also allowed to travel within the period.
The restrictions are part of a series of the state's pandemic control measures, according to the advisory which Philippine Airlines (PAL) released this afternoon (March 17).
If passengers belong to the profile of those prohibited to fly to the Philippines within the 30-day period, they have three options, according to the flag carrier.
They can rebook on the flight of their choice, on the same cabin class, with rebooking service fees waived.
They can also ask for a refund of their ticket cost or convert their tickets into a travel voucher for future use.
To comply with the new restrictions, airlines will need to cancel a number of international flights to and from Manila during the 30-day period.
PAL will announce flight cancellations once the details are confirmed.