As the government eased restrictions on non-essential international travel, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Wednesday told the public to not go to airports without confirmed flights and tickets.
Passengers without confirmed flights will not be permitted to enter airports due to strict health protocols in place, DILG Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya said.
“Mangyari lamang po na makipag-ugnayan kayo sa inyong airline kung confirmed ang inyong flight. Mapapagod lang po kayo sa biyahe at masasayang ang pera ninyo at mauuwi lang po ito sa wala,” Malaya said.
For flight confirmations, Malaya urged passengers to contact the airlines before their scheduled travel dates.
“Even if you were issued a ticket by the airline, you will have to confirm that prior to going to the airport because there may have been some changes in flight schedules. Moreover, all tickets issued prior to the pandemic are cancelled and will not be honored by airport authorities,” he added.
Walk-in customers will not be able to purchase tickets at the airports as all flights are being regulated in coordination with airline companies, he said.
To date, only 29 airports nationwide have resumed operations.
The Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Infectious Diseases released Resolution No. 52 on July 6, lifting the ban on non-essential foreign travel with some conditions.
The folllowing were required by IATF for international travel:
- submission of confirmed round-trip tickets for those traveling on tourist visas;
- adequate travel health insurance to cover rebooking and accommodation expenses should they get stranded and hospitalized abroad;
- permit to entry by the destination country, in accordance with their travel, health, and quarantine restrictions;
- execution of a “declaration” acknowledging the risks involved in traveling, including delay in return; and
- adherence to the Philippines’ guidelines on returning overseas Filipinos upon return to the country. John Ezekiel J. Hirro