ADVISORY NO. 7

ON MANDATORY QUARANTINE AND COVID-19 TESTING FOR ARRIVING FILIPINOS (OFWs and Non-OFWs) TO THE PHILIPPINES

Pursuant to Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) Resolution No. 30, Series of 2020 issued 29 April 2020, “all arriving non-OFWs shall be managed in accordance with the updated algorithm for the triage and management of repatriated OFWs from high risk or other jurisdictions issued by the Department of Health and the Bureau of Quarantine.”

Thus, all Filipinos arriving from overseas who are not OFWs (i.e. returning tourists, returning emigrants, students, J-1 visa holders, etc.), and foreign nationals who are granted exemption from the tacit travel ban, will now also be subjected to the same mandatory quarantine (not exceeding 14 days) and/or COVID-19 testing upon arrival that are required for returning OFWs.

Moreover, all arriving passengers should expect significant delays in traveling to their final destinations outside Metro Manila in view of the limited transportation options resulting from the existing Enhanced Community Quarantine in Metro Manila and in the different regions, provinces and cities throughout the country. Prospective travelers are therefore advised to postpone or delay non-essential travel to the Philippines.