NAIA Terminal 3 (File photo)
MANILA, Philippines — Travelers who are not “NCR Plus” residents will be allowed to enter the bubble if they have outbound international flights from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia), according to the Department of Transportation (DOTr).
“Kung [may] flight papalabas ng bansa ay pinapayagan po yung bumiyahe under the guidelines, makakapasok po siya dito (NCR Plus) to take the flight out of NCR or Naia for that matter,” DOTr Undersecretary Artemio Tuazon Jr. explained during the Laging Handa press briefing on Monday.
(If they have an international flight from Naia, they will be allowed under the guidelines, to enter Metro Manila.)
The “NCR Plus” bubble covers Metro Manila, Rizal, Bulacan, Cavite and Laguna, which were placed under an enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) from March 29 to April 4.
Tuazon added that “no limitations” are imposed on outbound flights to other countries given that the traveler has appropriate documents required by authorities in their destination.
“Sa palabas naman po, wala po tayong regulasyon or wala tayon limitasyon sa palabas ng Pilipinas, ang importante lang po ay tignan nila…kung ano po ang pangangailangan po ng kanilang bansa na destinasyon para sila ay maka-biyahe doon,” he said.
(Those with flights out of the Philippines, we have no regulations or limitations to travel outside the country, what’s important is for the traveler to know the requirements of his or her destination.)
The cap for inbound international arrivals, however, is restricted to a maximum of 1,500 passengers a day and limited to Filipinos and foreigners allowed by the country’s COVID-19 task force.
Domestic flights
The DOTr official said only individuals considered as authorized persons outside of residence (APOR) are allowed to take domestic flights.
“Ang pwede lang pong sumakay dito sa domestic flights ay yung mga APOR po,” Tuazon said.
(Only APORs are allowed to tae domestic flights.)
“Yung papalabas po ng NCR Plus bubble, kailangan din po nating siguraduhin na yung destination po natin ay pinapayagan tayong pumasok,” he added.
(To those traveling outside the NCR Plus bubble, they have to make sure that they are allowed to enter theor destination. )