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| A day of worry ends for OFWs and Filipino residents abroad as travel restrictions are lifted anew |
The
Philippine government has allowed overseas Filipino workers, residents abroad
and foreign tourists to leave the country during the month-long community quarantine or
lockdown of Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon.
The
move was announced during a late-night press conference at Malacanang on Mar 17
by Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez and Labor
Secretary Silvestre Bello III.
“OFWs,
balikbayans and foreign nationals leaving for abroad through any ports in Luzon
shall be allowed to leave the Philippines at anytime for the duration of the
enhanced community quarantine,” Nograles said.
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Previously,
everyone who wanted to leave the country during the lockdown was given only 72
hours, or until midnight of Mar 19, to fly out.
This
resulted in thousands of people rushing to the airports from midnight of Mar 16 to try to get on limited flights, or rebook tickets so they could beat the
deadline.
Many
Filipinos flying out to such places as the United States and Canada reported
paying exorbitant rebooking fees of as much as US$3000 per ticket just so they
could fly out.
Those
who could not secure seats sent out urgent appeals to the government to extend
the 72-hour deadline so they could all leave within the month-long lockdown.
Dozens
of people, mostly bound for Hong Kong, were also barred from taking their early-morning
Hong Kong Airlines flight after the Department of Transportation issued a false advisory
saying Filipinos would no longer be allowed to fly out of the country.
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As
a result of the easing of the travel ban, only Filipino tourists and those
intending to fly to places where travel restrictions are in place, such as
China’s Hubei province and South Korea’s Daegu districts, will be prevented
from leaving.
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| Nograles says OFWs may be brought and fetched from the airport by OWWA |
Nograles
said those allowed to fly under the relaxed rules must present proof of their
travel itinerary scheduled within 24 hours before their departure.
Also,
departing passengers may be accompanied by only one person when traveling to
the airport.
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The
new rules, crafted during the daily meeting by government officials that make
up the Inter-Agency Task Force to combat the spread of the coronavirus, also paid
particular attention to OFWs who worry about having to travel home during the
lockdown.
Many
of them live outside Metro Manila, and are worried that they will not be able
to get to their respective destinations because all public transportation had
been halted since the enhanced lockdown took effect on Mar 17.
Addressing
this concern, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration has undertaken to provide
transportation for OFWs to and from the airports in Luzon – the Ninoy Aquino
International Airport in Manila, and the Clark International Airport in
Pampanga.
Nograles
said these government measures will be subject to joint periodic reviews by the
Departments of Foreign Affairs, Labor and Tourism.
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