Luzon airports closed by Friday

MANILA, Philippines — All airports in Luzon will be closed by March 20, travel authorities said on Tuesday as the government started enforcing an enhanced community quarantine on the country’s biggest island.

President Rodrigo Duterte imposed the modified lockdown amid the rise in the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases.

Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente and Assistant Transport Secretary Goddes Libiran said outbound passengers have until 12 a.m. of March 20 to leave the Philippines from any airport in Luzon.

“Inbound passengers already in transit upon effectivity of the quarantine shall be allowed to enter, but will be referred to the Bureau of Quarantine if coming from countries with existing travel restrictions,” Morente said.

Morente clarified that apart from those in transit already, all passengers regardless of nationality will not be allowed to enter the country.

Only inbound Filipino citizens, their foreign spouse or children, permanent residents, and foreign diplomats shall be allowed entry.

Stranded tourists

Also exempted from the ban are arriving and departing uniformed personnel on official business.

Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said her agency was coordinating with local officials and other authorities to assist stranded tourists.

She said in a statement, “[We] will not allow any tourists to be stranded here in the Philippines. We have mounted recovery flights with our airlines and the military to bring our tourists home safely. Our regional offices have been in close coordination with the LGUs (local government units) to facilitate the transit of passengers to their respective international and domestic gateways.”

Many outbound foreigners are in danger of getting stranded because major carriers have already canceled their flights at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) and other local airports.

Even Filipinos who have arrived from international flights are themselves stranded at Naia terminals due to lack of public transport.

Philippine Airlines said all its domestic flights were canceled starting Tuesday until April 12.“We shall continue to operate international flights up to 11:59 p.m. on Mar. 19,” PAL spokesperson Cielo Villaluna said.

Cebu Pacific Air said on Sunday it will cancel all domestic flights to and from Manila until April 14 but will continue to operate limited flights to other hubs such as Clark, Cebu, and Davao.

AirAsia also canceled its domestic flights to and from NAIA and Clark until Apr. 14.

—Reports from Tina G. Santos, Jerome Aning and Krixia Subingsubing