U.S. Embassy in the
Philippines

United States Embassy Manila, Philippines

Health Alert – U.S. Embassy Manila (April 17, 2020)

Location:  Davao, Philippines

Event:  

Davao Sweeper Flight to Manila on Saturday, April 18

Extra Seats Now Available for April 18 Davao Sweeper Flight:  Philippine Airlines (PAL) has upgraded to a larger plane for tomorrow’s Davao sweeper flight.  There are now extra seats available.  Interested travelers need to purchase tickets in person at the PAL ticketing office at the Davao International Airport, which is open until 5:00 pm this afternoon.  Tomorrow, April 18, the PAL Davao Airport ticketing office will be open from 8:00 am to 12:00.  Seats are available on a first-come first-served basis until they are sold out.

Department of Health (DOH) City or Municipal Health Office Certificates 

Travelers may need additional requirements, such as a Medical/Health Certificate on quarantine status or fitness to travel.

The DOH Bureau of Quarantine Office issues this certificate in larger cities, e.g. Cebu and Davao.  For other areas, travelers should obtain a medical/health certificate from the City or Municipal Health Office. Some local government Health Offices require a certification letter from the barangay stating the individual has stayed in their locality for at least 14 days to ascertain their quarantine status.  In some cases, individuals may be asked to submit additional medical documentation, such as a chest X-ray.  Check with your city or municipality government website for more information on the Health Office in your area.

Listed below are telephone numbers for some DOH Bureau of Quarantine Offices.

Registration with the Department of Tourism 

The Department of Tourism (DOT) coordinates with its Regional Offices to monitor the number of and assist stranded foreigners.  Travelers may also need to register with the DOT if they have not already done so.  The DOT Directory of Regional Offices can be found at: http://www.tourism.gov.ph/regional_offices.aspx.  More DOT information is located at: https://philippines.travel/safeph.  Each DOT Region also maintains a Facebook page with hotline numbers available to assist stranded foreign citizens.

Passage to the airport 

The DOT may assist foreign nationals finding difficulty in transportation arrangements going to the airport due to the community quarantine restrictions.

Below are some DOT Regional Offices with available public numbers for travelers needing assistance with transportation to airports:

1.      DOT Region 8 (Leyte) – 0927-635-4728; 0917-703-0550

2.      DOT Region 10 (Cagayan de Oro) – 0917-872-9725; 088-880-0172; 088-856-4048

3.      DOT Region 11 (Davao) – 0927-993-5965

4.      DOT Region 7 (Cebu & Bohol) provided the following list of accredited land transport providers during COVID-19 quarantine restrictions:

• Operator: Divaishnavi Intl. Inc.
  Contact Person: Stephanie Villahermosa
  Mobile #: 0977-824-1287 | 0917-329-4457
• Operator: Planet J Rent A Car
  Contact Person: Jupiter Ofqueria
  Mobile #: 0906-308-3336 | 0917-587-4145
• Operator: Orient Sun Transport Corp
  Contact Person: Alma Sanchez
  Mobile #: 0917-328-4371
• Operator: Catalina Car Rentals
  Contact Person: Ms. ChingbiCuizon
  Mobile #: 0917-628-7777
• Operator: Sanfort Safety Tours Rent A Car
  Contact Person: Edith Sanchez
  Mobile #: 0917-325-1645
• Operator: Crius Tourist Transport
  Contact Person: Mr. William Oljol
  Mobile #: 0917-625-3786
• Operator: CLB Tours and Transport Services
  Contact Person: Mr. Charllie Baltazar
  Mobile #: 0917-847-9620 | 0922-881-5183

International Flights Departing from Manila Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA):

International commercial flight options currently exist in the Philippines.  U.S. citizens who wish to return to the United States should make commercial arrangements as soon as possible unless they are prepared to remain abroad for an indefinite period.  The U.S. government does not currently anticipate arranging repatriation flights in the Philippines at this time.

The Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) updates their Facebook page with scheduled international flights.  Visit the MIAA Facebook and Twitter pages for an updated schedule of international flights.

https://www.facebook.com/MIAAGovPh/

https://twitter.com/MIAAGovPH

Flight schedules may change at any given time.  Please contact your airline for confirmation.

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.