U.S. Embassy in the
Philippines

United States Embassy Manila, Philippines

Health Alert – U.S. Embassy Manila (April 16, 2020)

Location:  The Philippines

Event: 

Sweeper Flights to Manila on Saturday, April 18:

• Sweeper flights to Manila are planned for April 18 from Bacolod, Bohol, Cagayan de Oro, Caticlan, Cebu, Davao, Dumaguete, Iloilo, Leyte, Puerto Princesa, and Siargao.
• Register for the flight with Philippine Airlines (PAL) by 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 16 at the following link: https://mypal.vip/url/DomesticFlight
• Once registration closes, a PAL representative will then contact you directly to arrange payment and confirm your seat.  All flight arrangements will be made by PAL.
• PAL has yet to determine the cost of the sweeper flights, but advised that it will be based on a standard commerical fare.
• PAL advised that to receive a boarding pass, travelers will need to be able to demonstrate they meet at least one of the criteria below, which is set by the Philippine Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF):
  • An onward international airline ticket within 24-hours of the sweeper flight.
  • Confirmed hotel accommodation until travel and a confirmed international flight if longer than 24-hours.
  • Be a permanent resident in Manila with proof of residential address.
• Travelers may need additional requirements, such as a Quarantine Certificate.
• Contact the U.S. Embassy by email ACSInfoManila@state.gov or telephone: +(63)(2) 5301-2000 to request a travel letter for passage to the airport and let us know that you have been confirmed on the flight.

Quarantine Certificates:

When purchasing airline tickets, airlines may ask travelers to provide a Quarantine Certificate.  The Bureau of Quarantine issues this certificate in larger cities, e.g. Cebu and Davao.  For other areas, travelers should inquire with the Provincial, City, or Municipal Health Office.  The Health Office may require a certification letter from the barangay stating the individual has stayed in their locality for at least 14 days.  In some cases, individuals may be asked to submit additional medical documentation, such as a chest X-ray.

Check with your province, city, or municipality government website for more information on the Health Office in your area.  Listed below are telephone numbers for some Bureau of Quarantine offices.

Travel Letters:

The U.S. Embassy can provide travel letters to U.S. citizens planning to travel to an airport, which can be presented at checkpoints.  To request a travel letter, U.S. citizens should contact the U.S. Embassy by email ACSInfoManila@state.gov or telephone: +(63)(2) 5301-2000.

Hotel Information:

On April 6, the Philippine Department of Tourism updated the list of operational hotels in the Manila Metro area.  The list can be viewed on the Embassy’s COVID-19 Information page, along with information on Philippine visas and the Bureau of Immigration, the Philippine Retirement Authority, and car rentals.

Actions to Take:

• Contact the airlines directly for reservations and updated information.
• Check with your airlines, cruise lines, or travel operators regarding any updated information about your travel plans and/or restrictions.
• Monitor local news for updates.
• Consult the CDC website for the most up-to-date information.
• For the most recent information on what you can do to reduce your risk of contracting COVID-19, please see the CDC’s latest recommendations.
• Visit the COVID-19 crisis page on travel.state.gov for the latest information.
• Visit our Embassy webpage on COVID-19 here for information on conditions in the Philippines.
• Visit the Department of Homeland Security’s website on the latest travel restrictions to the U.S.
• Consult resources below as necessary:
  • Philippine Department of Health (DOH)
  • Philippine Department of Health (FAQs)
  • Philippine Bureau of Immigration (BI)
  • Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA)
  • Philippine Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB)
  • Philippine Maritime Industry Authority
  • Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs
  • Philippine Department of Interior and Local Government
  • Philippine Department of Tourism
  • COVID-19 crisis page on travel.state.gov
  • CDC page on COVID-19
  • Philippines Travel Advisory
  • Philippines Country Information Page

Assistance:

• 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.