IATF OKs non-gov’t repatriation efforts

MANILA – The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases’ (IATF-EID) has allowed non-Philippine government repatriation efforts amid the travel ban on India and six other countries, Malacañang said on Friday.

“Apart from the repatriation programs of the Philippine government, the IATF exempted non-Philippine government repatriation efforts to the entry restrictions imposed on travelers from India, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates,” said Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, also acting as IATF-EID spokesperson.

The Philippine government has extended the prohibition of entry of travelers from India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates until June 15.

Exempted from the travel restrictions are Filipinos who are returning to the country as part of the government’s repatriation programs.

Under the IATF-EID Resolution 119 approved Thursday, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) are directed to conduct prior coordination with each other at least 48 hours prior to the departure of returning Filipinos.

The DFA and OWWA are also tasked to coordinate with the Department of Health’s Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ), the Department of Transportation and its One-Stop-Shop, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, and the National Task Force Against the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) Task Group for the Management of Returning Overseas Filipinos.

In the case of non-Philippine government repatriation, all Filipino repatriates from the countries with travel restrictions must present a negative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test result taken within 48 hours prior to boarding the aircraft or vessel, Roque said.

“The airline or the shipping line is responsible to check on this requirement. A copy of the negative RT-PCR test result of the repatriate shall be submitted to the BOQ upon arrival in the port of entry in the Philippines,” he said.

Roque said the BOQ’s approval is needed for the entry of flight or vessel carrying Filipino repatriates before its movement from point of origin.

“In this connection, the concerned local manning agency (in the case of seafarers), the Philippine recruitment agency (for land-based workers), or the sponsoring Philippine government agency shall submit an exemption request to the DOH-BOQ, the approval of which is tantamount to IATF’s approval on the repatriation effort,” he said.

All repatriates from countries covered by the travel ban are mandated to undergo a strict 14-day facility-based quarantine upon their arrival, Roque said.

The IATF-EID, in its Resolution 114 approved on May 6, requires all travelers arriving in the Philippines, including those who have already been inoculated against Covid-19, to stay in a quarantine facility for 10 days and observe home quarantine for four days.

Travelers are also required to undertake RT-PCR testing on their seventh day in the country.

Meantime, Roque said the IATF-EID also allowed foreigners holding Resident Retiree’s Visa to visit the country upon the recommendation of the Department of Tourism.

“On another matter, the IATF allowed foreign nationals holding Special Resident Retiree’s Visa to enter the Philippines without the need of an entry exemption document,” he said.