PH lifts entry ban on Filipino travelers from ‘red list’ nations

(FILE) Some 253 overseas Filipino workers repatriated from Kuwait undergo medical protocols and check-up at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) when they arrived in Manila early Thursday. Photos courtesy of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA)

MANILA, Philippines —The Philippines has lifted the entry ban on Filipino travelers from “red list” countries subject to quarantine protocols, Malacañang said Friday.

This, as the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, placed Canada, Saudi Arabia, and 12 other countries under the “red list” from Jan. 16 to 31.

The IATF has now allowed the “inbound international travel of all persons coming from or who have been” to countries under the “red list” within the last 14 days “prior to arrival to any port” of the Philippines, Cabinet Secretary and acting presidential spokesperson Karlo Nograles said in a Palace briefing.

Nograles however later clarified that the Philippines is not yet open to international tourists.

“Napagdesisyonan na kahit sa red list countries na mga Filipinos, we will now allow them to come in as long as they comply with the red list protocols. Hindi na kailangan maghintay ng Bayanihan (repatriation) flight mula sa red list countries,” he said.

(The IATF decided that even if they’re coming from red list countries, we will now allow Filipinos to come in as long as they comply with the red list protocols. They need not wait for a Bayanihan flight from the red list countries.)

Travelers coming from the “red list” countries will still be required to present a negative RT-PCR test taken within 48 hours prior to departure from the country of origin.

Upon their arrival in the Philippines, travelers should undergo a facility-based quarantine and take an RT-PCR test on the 7th day from the date of their arrival, according to IATF Resolution No. 157.

For fully vaccinated travelers, they can be released from the facility-based quarantine if their test yielded a negative result. They, however, should remain under quarantine at home up to the 14th day from their arrival to the Philippines.

Meanwhile, travelers from “red list” countries who are not vaccinated, are partially vaccinated, or individuals whose vaccination status cannot be independently validated may be discharged “only upon the completion of a 10-day facility-based quarantine, regardless of a negative RT-PCR result.”

Further, they are required to undergo home quarantine until the 14th day from their arrival to the Philippines, according to the IATF resolution.

For yellow, green lists

Concerning travelers from “green list” and “yellow list” countries, the government said they should present a negative RT-PCR test taken within 48 hours of their departure from the country of origin.

Those coming from green list countries who are fully vaccinated will no longer be required to undergo facility-based quarantine but shall self-monitor for any sign or symptom for seven days after their arrival in the Philippines.

For travelers who are not fully vaccinated against COVID-19, they should be quarantined in a facility and released only after the release of a negative result of an RT-PCR test taken five days after their entry into the country. After which, they should self-monitor for any sign or symptom for 14 days after arrival.

Meanwhile, fully vaccinated travelers from yellow list countries are required to undergo a facility-based quarantine and take a test on the fifth day from the date of their arrival. If the result is negative, they may be released and may continue their quarantine at home up to the seventh day.

But those who are not fully vaccinated and are coming in to the Philippines from yellow list nations should take a test seven days into their facility-based quarantine, according to the government. If the test yields a negative result, they will then be allowed to go home and finish their quarantine up to the 14th day.

MUF/KGA