The Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) has released an advisory that all passenger / commercial flights to and from the Philippines are suspended beginning today, May 3, at 8 in the morning.
The advisory was released on May 2, 2020, 11:50p.m.
Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., chief implementer of the National Taskforce Against COVID-19, has temporarily suspended all passenger/commercial flights to help curb the spread of COVID-19 in the country.
Cargo flights, medical supplies, utility, and maintenance flights remain unhampered.
The last batch of commercial flights arrived and departed yesterday, May 2, at NAIA Terminal 1.
The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) has also issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) following NAIA's advisory this Sunday, May 3.
According to a report by ABS-CBN, the notice says that all domestic and international flights to and from the Philippines are suspended for one week.
Nine international airports are covered by the notice:
- Ninoy Aquino Interntional Airport
- Davao International Airport
- Clar International Airport
- Iloilo International Airport
- Mactan-Cebu International Airport
- Zamboanga International Airport
- Kalibo International Airport
- Laoag International Airport
- Puerto Princesa International Airport
Metro Manila and 12 more regions, which include Central Luzon and Calabarzon, are still under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) until May 15.
All other provinces now observe general community quarantine (GCQ).
For areas under GCQ, the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases and the Department of Transportation have allowed the following flights to operate:
- Government and military flights
- International flights subject to existing IATF-EID/BOQ protocols
- Air ambulance and medical supplies
- Flight check and weather mitigation flights
- Maintenance and utility flights
- Emergency flights; domestic flights coming to and from provinces and cities under GCQ, subject to required airport clearances and flight plan approvals, as may be applicable
- Other flights (as approved by IATF-EID).
Rules include that all individuals wear face mask, face shield, or other Personal Protective Equipment.
Only passengers with valid travel documents will be allowed to enter the airport.
The checking of body temperature is mandatory upon entry.
Inside airport premises, social distancing measures are to be strictly observed.
As of May 2, 2020, there are 156 new cases of COVID-19.
This brings up the total number of cases to 8,928.
There are also 40 new recovered patients, bringing the total up to 1,124 recoveries.
As for deaths, there are 24 new reports. The total of deaths is now at 603.
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