United States Embassy Manila, Philippines
Health Alert – U.S. Embassy Manila (April 30, 2020)
Location: The Philippines
Event:
U.S. Embassy and Philippine Airlines Partner to Assist Stranded U.S. Citizens:
The U.S. Embassy and Philippine Airlines (PAL) have partnered together to assist stranded U.S. citizens who want to return to the United States. We are surveying passengers to determine if a special flight to bring home stranded U.S. citizens and Lawful Permanent Residents (LPRs) is feasible. This would be a commercial flight on May 9 from Manila to LAX on PAL on which U.S. citizens and LPRs will have priority.
Available seats would be offered at-charge, on a first-come first-served basis. According to PAL, arranged airfare for the Manila to LAX flight would be USD $1,200 (plus taxes and fees) and domestic sweeper flight costs would be USD $200 (plus taxes and fees) per seat. Interested travelers must meet all Philippine exit requirements, including health certificates. Please click here to begin the process to register your intent and purchase a ticket. The deadline for registration is Sunday, May 3 at 8:00 PM. This flight is contingent on meeting a minimum number of travelers, so please register your intent NOW.
Please confirm the accuracy of your contact information before submitting. Once registration closes and a minimum number of travelers is met, a PAL representative will then contact you directly to arrange payment and confirm your seat. All flight arrangements will be made by PAL.
We are aware of the hardship the enhanced community quarantine is creating for U.S. citizens who need to get to the United States, particularly for those who require sweeper flights to connect to Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA). For those who are not already in Manila, PAL has agreed to arrange sweeper flights from various cities to Manila to connect with the May 9, Manila-LAX flight. U.S. citizens and LPRs will have priority on these sweepers, but other seats will be made available to other nationalities. Each sweeper flight will be contingent on meeting a minimum number of travelers.
U.S. citizens who need a travel letter to assist with passage through checkpoints to the airport should send an email to the U.S. Embassy at ACSInfoManila@state.gov, subject line TRAVEL LETTER REQUEST. We will do our best to respond as soon as possible.
We are monitoring the situation and will continue to inform U.S. citizens of known sweeper flights through the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP).
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 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 province, city, or municipality government website for more information on the Health Office in your area.
The Department of Tourism:
The Department of Tourism (DOT) coordinates with its Regional Offices to monitor and assist stranded foreigners. Travelers may also want 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, which stranded U.S. citizens may call for assistance.
Actions to Take:
- 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.