Archives for May 2020

20 May Update.

(Updated 20 May 2020)

I’m Still Locked Down

But the rules have been loosened a little.  Most of Central Luzon has been placed into a GCQ status.  General Community Quarantine.  This means following pretty much normal anti-disease rules … wearing masks in public, social distance spacing between people, etc.  Most cites are resuming public transportation a bit at a time, with much-reduced capacity loading.  Most malls and other businesses are now open or in the process of opening.

Much of The Metro And a Few Other Towns (Like Mine)  Are Under a MECQ

Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine is still pretty restrictive, checkpoints, barangay quarantine passes required, etc.  But yesterday on a “legal” trip to the grocery store (in our local mall, which has otherwise been closed … I saw that a number of food establishments are opening up (for take-out or delivery only) including Burger King.  I immediately fell in line (maintaining my social distancing (as marked on the floor)) and order way too many Whoppers and Xtra Long Chicken sandwiches to take home for lunch.

Life might return to normal someday, yet.

Air Transport Is Still Quite Limited

No Domestic (Inter-Island) Flights, Period.

All International Flights Only From and To NAIA (Manila).

Here’s Today’s Inbounds and Otbounds From NAIA

The US Embassy and Philippine Airlines Continue To Operate “Sweeper” Flights

These are a combination of chartered domestic flights from various cites to Manila, and then follow-on flights from Manila to several US cites.

Here’s the info for the latest round of “Sweepers”.  Information on how to find out more is in the quoted message.

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LAST DAY to Register Interest in Special Philippine Airlines Flights (Two Sweeper Flights Added):

U.S. Citizens in the Philippines: The deadline to register your interest in the special Philippine Airlines (PAL) flights to Los Angeles and San Francisco and/or sweeper flights is today, Monday, May 18 at 11:59 p.m. (Manila time). Click here to register NOW.

NOTE: PAL has added sweeper flights on May 26 for Legaspi and Tacloban.

May 21 from Manila to Los Angeles with two domestic sweeper flights – one from Cebu and one from Davao.

May 26 from Manila to San Francisco with ten domestic sweeper flights from Bacolod, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Davao, Dumaguete, Iloilo, Siargao, Tagbilaran, Legaspi and Tacloban.

All flight arrangements will be made by PAL, not the Embassy. You must submit a working phone number and include all local or international area codes. PAL will contact you to arrange payment and ticketing after you have registered for the flights, so check your contact details carefully before submitting the survey and keep your phone on and handy. Do not call the Embassy for booking or ticketing.

For the PAL sweeper flights, you MUST have proof of an onward international flight. If that flight is NOT within 24 hours, you also MUST have proof of a confirmed hotel reservation in Manila until your international flight departs. You CANNOT take a sweeper flight without an onward international flight confirmation.

U.S. Embassy in the Philippines

1201 Roxas Boulevard

+63(2) 5301-2000, from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday

After-hours emergency number for U.S. citizens is +(63)(2) 5301-2000.

State Department–Consular Affairs 888-407-4747 or 202-501-4444.
State Department’s travel website for the Worldwide Caution, Travel Advisories, Alerts, and the Philippines Country Specific Information.
Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive Alerts.
Follow us on Twitter and Facebook

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There is no reason any US citizen (who can pay for his or her flight) should be “stuck” in the Philippines.

More as it happens.

20 May Update

Well, I’m feeling fine, PTL but I’m distinctly disappointed because I just found out that I am not going to get released from the strict lockdown rules we’re living under now in Marilo, Bulacan for a least another 15 days.

So it goes.

A lot of people have been passing all sorts of information about how hard it is to get outbound international flights, It’s not really that hard to get flights _OUT_ of Manila … here’s today’s list:

The problem is, for most people … getting to Manila

There is essentially NO public transport, domestic air, sea, or road (imagine the highways with no busses).  The US embassy has partnered with Philippine Airlines to offer what they are calling “sweeper” flights.  These go out to various provincial cites and fly US citizens back to Manila.

PAL then flies US citizen-only flights to LAX or SFO.

If you’re not a US citizen you’ll have to contact your own country’s embassy to find out if they have any similar programs.

Domestic Air Travel (Island to Island) Should Start To Ease on the 16th

But how fast domestic travel will open up isn’t something I have been informed on very well … so, wait and see.

Buses and other land transport will start to open too, but it will still be very difficult to get into Manila.

Edited … I Forgot

Every year before the end of May, usually, the tropical storms start.  This one spent several days as a TS (Tropical Storm) and has now been upgraded to a “Tropical Cyclone” otherwise known as a Typhoon,  It’s currently moving up the east (Pacific coast of the country and ought to be having its full effect on the Manila area tonight or tomorrow.  Flying in or out not recommended while this is happening.

 

That’s About It For Today

More as it happens.

There’s No Entry For Foreigners — Until Further Notice.

(Updated 12 May 2020)

I keep hearing a lot of conflicting rumors and questions fly about travel into the Philippines.

The situation is fluid and may change at any time, but this is the way things are today, 12 May 2020 (Philippines Standard Time) (e don’t serve that idiotic Daylight Time nonsense here in the Philippines)

First, let me give you the latest status quote from the NAIA Airport official Facebook page

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Allow us to clarify to everyone that only repatriating Filipinos and their immediate family members will be allowed entry in the country.  (My emphasis)

Kindly note that last week, international inbound flights for OFWs and other overseas Filipinos were ordered to be temporarily suspended by the National Task Force (NTF) Against COVID-19 to ramp up the readiness of our country’s international gateway in handling arriving repatriates in so far as COVID-19 testing capability and quarantine facilities’ availability and readiness are concerned.

Let it be clear that the ban on foreign tourists and non-residents, except diplomats and heads/members of international missions, will continue to be enforced in the country, until further notice from the IATF.
Thank you. https://www.facebook.com/DOTrPH/

Foreign Nationals except for diplomats are not going to be allowed entry to the Philippines until further notice.

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