UPDATE: SUSPENSION OF ALL PASSENGER/COMMERCIAL FLIGHTS TO AND FROM THE PHILIPPINES

From the Office of the National Task Force Chief Implementer Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. –

The National Task Force (NTF) Against COVID-19 has made the decision to temporarily restrict flight operations at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Manila and all other international airports in the country except for the following: (1) Emergencies while enroute; (2) Cargo Flights; (3) Air Ambulance and medical supplies flights; (4) Weather Mitigation Flights; and (5) Maintenance Flights. Also allowed to continue are sweeper flights for foreign nationals repatriating back to their respective countries. All domestic air arrivals and departures at the NAIA will remain suspended. 

The Civil Aviation Authoritiy of the Philippines (CAAP) added that International Flights wishing to land and depart must request exemption with the CAAP OPCEN at least 36 hours before the scheduled departure from their place of origin.

This decision is meant to decongest our quarantine facilities to protect our people by preventing the further spread of COVID-19 and also ensure that our overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) are well taken cared of when they arrive from abroad. As of today, there are already approximately 20,000 OFWs undergoing mandatory quarantine in Metro Manila. 

The new flight restriction is only temporary and will be implemented for one week to give the government the opportunity to decongest the quarantine facilities in Metro Manila. 

Further updates will be provided by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) and the NTF Against COVID-19.