United States Embassy Manila, Philippines
United States Consular Agency Cebu, Philippines
July 23, 2021
Health Alert: Quarantine and Other Regulations Update
The Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) recently issued resolutions affecting quarantine classifications and other regulations.
Quarantine Classifications:
Below are the current quarantine classifications according to the Philippine government in view of IATF Resolution 128-A:
Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ) beginning July 23, 2021 until further notice
Luzon – Ilocos Norte: City of Batac and the towns of Bangui, Dingras, Dumalneg, Marcos, Pagudpud, Paoay, Pasuquin and Solsona
Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ) through July 31, 2021
Luzon – Region III: Bataan
Mindanao – Region X: Cagayan de Oro City; Region XI: Davao Occidental; and Region XIII (CARAGA): Butuan City
General Community Quarantine (GCQ) through July 31, 2021
Luzon – Cordillera Administrative Region: Baguio City and Apayao; Region II: Santiago City, Quirino, Isabela and Nueva Vizcaya; Region III: Bulacan; Region IV-A: Cavite, Rizal, Batangas and Quezon; Region IV-B: Puerto Princesa
Visayas – Region VI: Guimaras and Negros Occidental
Mindanao – Region IX: Zamboanga Sibugay, Zamboanga City and Zamboanga Del Norte; Region XI: Davao Oriental and Davao Del Sur; Region XII: Gen. Santos City, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, Cotabato and South Cotabato; Region XIII (CARAGA): Agusan Del Norte, Agusan Del Sur, Surigao Del Norte; Surigao Del Sur, and Dinagat Islands; and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM): Cotabato City.
General Community Quarantine (GCQ) with heightened restrictions through July 31, 2021
NCR – Metro Manila
Luzon – Region I: Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte; Region II: Cagayan; Region 4-A: Laguna and Lucena City; Region V: Naga City
Visayas – Region VII: Negros Oriental; Region IX: Zamboanga Del Sur; Region XI: Davao City
Mindanao – Region XI: Davao De Oro and Davao Del Norte
All other areas are under Modified General Community Quarantine (MGCQ) through July 31, 2021.
For quarantine classification protocols and regulations, visit the Philippine COVID -19 website. The Philippine government mandated all persons to wear full-coverage face shields together with face masks while in public places. Local governments continue to implement additional requirements to slow the virus’ spread.
Entry Restrictions and Other Regulations
Foreign spouses, parent/s, and/or children of Filipino citizens with valid 9(a) visas are now allowed entry to the Philippines without the need of an entry exemption document (EED) from the Department of Foreign Affairs beginning 01 August 2021, per IATF Resolution 128.
The IATF recently approved the following revised rules for “Green Lanes” that will apply to fully vaccinated international arriving passengers to the Philippines beginning 0001H (Manila time) on 26 July 2021, except for Section 9(e) visa holders:
1. International arriving passengers to the Philippines, regardless of point of entry, need only to undergo a 7-day facility-based quarantine and RT-PCR testing on the 5th day, with the day of arrival of being the first day, provided:
a. Their port of origin is a Green List country/jurisdiction/territory.
b. They stayed exclusively in Green List countries/jurisdictions/territories in the last 14 days prior to their arrival in the Philippines.
c. They are fully vaccinated, whether in the Philippines or abroad.
d. Their vaccination status can be independently verified/confirmed by Philippine authorities as valid and authentic upon arrival in the country.
2. International arriving passengers to the Philippines, regardless of point of entry, shall not be qualified for the Green Lanes, and shall thus undergo a 10-day facility-based quarantine and a 4-day home quarantine, including an RT-PCR test on the 7th day, if any of the following conditions are present:
a. Their port of origin is not a Green List country/jurisdiction/territory.
b. They stayed outside a Green List country/jurisdiction/territory at any time in the last 14 days before their arrival in the Philippines.
c. They have not been fully vaccinated.
d. Even if fully vaccinated, their vaccination status cannot be independently verified/confirmed by Philippine authorities as valid or authentic upon their arrival in the country.
3. All passengers, whether Filipinos or foreigners, merely transiting through a non-Green List country/jurisdiction/territory shall not be deemed as having come from or having been to the said country/jurisdiction/territory if they stayed in the airport the whole time and were not cleared for entry by immigration authorities.
NOTE: The United States is NOT/NOT included in the list of “Green” countries per IATF Resolution 124-A.
The Metro Manila Council reimposed longer curfew hours in Metro Manila from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. beginning July 25, 2021, until further notice. The IATF also recently suspended its earlier resolution allowing children under 18 years of age to go outdoors due to the threat of the highly contagious Delta variant.
The Philippine travel ban now includes Malaysia and Thailand. All passengers coming from or who have been to Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates within the 14 days preceding their arrival in the Philippines are banned from entry. Transit passengers arriving from these destinations who did not exit the airport may be allowed entry, as determined by BI upon arrival.
Actions to Take:
Monitor the Philippine Department of Health website and the Embassy’s COVID-19 webpage for updated information about conditions in the Philippines.
Consult the Philippines’ National Task Force Against COVID-19 social media page for information and updates.
Assistance:
U.S. Embassy in the Philippines: +63(2) 5301-2000 or ACSInfoManila@state.gov
State Department – Consular Affairs: 888-407-4747 or 202-501-4444
Philippines Country Information
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