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Assistance to Foreign Nationals, Diplomatic Missions, and
International Organizations in the Philippines
The health and safety of everyone, including all foreign
nationals in the Philippines, is a priority for the Philippine
Government. Based on evidence of sustained community transmission
of the Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19), the President declared
a Luzon-wide Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) from 17 March 2020
until 13 April 2020 and further extended until 30 April 2020,
during which time, the following measures shall be observed:
1. Suspension of school and related activities until further
notice; 2. Prohibition on mass gathering and strict observance of
social distancing; 3. Implementation of work from home arrangement
in the Philippine Government
executive branch, which is encouraged in other organizations and
entities as well; 4. Private establishments providing basic
necessities and such activities related to
food and medicine production are allowed to remain open, under
specific conditions covered by government guidelines;
5. Suspension of mass public transport facilities; and 6.
Restriction on land, sea and air travel.
As of 28 April 2020, the President has approved the
recommendation of the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of
Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) to extend the ECQ to 15 May
2020 in the following critical areas: National Capital Region: ●
Metropolitan Manila
Cordillera Administrative Region: ● Benguet● Baguio City
Region I ● Pangasinan
Region III
● Bataan● Bulacan● Nueva Ecija● Pampanga● Tarlac● Zambales
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Region IV-A
● Batangas● Cavite● Laguna● Rizal● Quezon
Visayas
● Cebu● Iloilo
Mindanao
● Davao City
The following guidelines are provided for the information and
reference of all Diplomatic Missions and International
Organizations in the Philippines: Frequently Asked Questions ● Will
the Philippine Government mount additional outbound flights for
stranded
foreign nationals?
NO. The last of the sweeper flights mounted and paid for by the
Philippine Government was on 26 March 2020. From 27 March 2020,
there will be no more DOT-initiated flights. However, assistance to
foreign nationals will still be given through the regional offices
of the Departments of Tourism and of Foreign Affairs.
● What canDiplomaticMissionsdo inorder toprepareextractionof
theirnationals from
locationsoutsideMetroManila?
1. The concerned foreign mission shall coordinate with the
regional DOT and DFA offices on the land transportation
requirements of their stranded nationals to the bus station or
airport. Transportation expenses shall be shouldered by the
concerned foreign mission.
2. Write a letter request to concerned LGUs and local PNP to
obtain approval for their nationals to be given safe and unimpeded
passage to the evacuation points.
3. Have their nationals secure medical certificates from the
local health office or doctor before traveling to the evacuation
points.
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4. The concerned foreign mission shall provide a list of
stranded nationals complete with current location and contact
details to the Regional DOT and DFA offices at least 5 days before
the intended departure date.
5. Move their nationals to evacuation points on the day of their
outbound flight from Manila since the Ninoy Aquino International
Airport will not allow overnight stay in the airport. This means
their outbound flight should ideally be in the evening.
6. Concerned foreign missions are encouraged to work with other
Embassies to undertake a joint sweeper bus trip or sweeper flight,
especially for those travelling to the same region.
● Can Diplomatic Missions charter repatriation flights for their
nationals?
YES, at their own initiative and expense. Diplomatic Missions
are advised to
coordinate directly with local airlines regarding such flights.
However, if a foreign aircraft is to be used for the flight, the
DFA shall take charge in the issuance of required diplomatic
clearances.
It is also encouraged that Diplomatic Missions coordinate with
each other in
optimizing available seats in chartered flights for outbound
foreign nationals wishing to reach nearby final destination. Vice
versa, countries chartering flights bound for the Philippines to
pick up stranded foreign nationals may also wish to optimize its
seats by offering them to Filipino nationals who wish to return to
the Philippines during this global health crisis.
● Are foreign nationals required to travel to any Philippine
port within 24 hours of
their scheduled flight?
NO. Effective 24 March 2020, the 24-hour restriction requiring
presentation of proof of booking/itinerary when travelling to any
Philippine port has been lifted by the IATF. Foreign nationals have
been granted free and unimpeded access to ports as per IATF
Resolution No. 15. No fees or other requirements shall be imposed
by local governments on them.
However, Diplomatic Missions are strongly advised to ask their
nationals who are
on short stay in the country to return home while there are
still available outbound international flights. Foreign nationals
who miss this window opportunity will have to ride out the lockdown
until it is over, unless concerned Embassies would charter special
outbound flights for their respective nationals.
● Where can stranded foreign nationals stay while awaiting their
outbound flight?
The Department of Tourism (DOT) has provided an updated list of
hotels that may accommodate stranded passengers, and a list of
contact persons per area or region are available on the DOT
website: http://www.tourism.gov.ph/regional_offices.aspx.
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● Does the Philippine Government have a program to provide
financial assistance to stranded foreign nationals? NO. Hence,
Diplomatic Missions should be prepared to assist their nationals
who are left behind as part of their consular function. In the case
of foreign nationals who have decided to stay throughout the ECQ,
the Department regularly coordinates with Local Government Units to
allow them access to go out and purchase food and other essential
items. For foreign nationals who may need to send or receive
remittance, they may wish to check
https://www.westernunion.com/ph/en/find-locations.html for Western
Union branches near them. Another option is MoneyGram, whose
details may be found at http://moneygram.ph/en.
● Will the DFA Office of Consular Affairs process visa
applications and renewal during the ECQ?
o During the ECQ, OCA only processes 9(e) or diplomatic visa
renewals. OCA
accepts renewal applications for 9(e) visas expiring within the
ECQ through [email protected]. For new visa issuance, with
reference to the Department’s Note No. 2020-0921 dated 19 March
2020, requests for exemptions should be forwarded to the same email
address.
o Concerns on other types of visa of foreigners who are in the
country should be referred to the Bureau of Immigration
([email protected]). The following may be noted based on the
Bureau’s ECQ advisories:
1. A foreign national (in Luzon) whose visa is expiring within
the quarantine period may opt to file for extension within 30 days
after the lifting of the wide ECQ without penalties.
2. Processing of departure clearances for foreigners who have
overstayed for one (1) year or less may be done at the Bureau’s
offices in international airports, but for those who have
overstayed for more than a year, processing can only be done at the
Bureau’s main office in Intramuros, Manila.
● How can I get my ECC / ACR-I Card from the Bureau of
Immigration?
o Holders of temporary visitors visa who have stayed in the
country for less than one year, may secure their Emmigration
Clearance Certificates (ECCs) at the international airports.
o Holders of approved and implemented visas but are awaiting
release of their ACR-I cards may secure their ACR-I Waiver and ECCs
at the international airports.
o The Bureau of Immigration notes that derogatory records
checking before issuance of said clearances is done to ensure that
any foreign national who wish to leave the country has no pending
obligation with the government.
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● Does the DFA have any specific guidelines for diplomatic
personnel relating to COVID such as contingency plans or measures
to protect the health of Embassy/International Organization
personnel and their families?
o Each Embassy and International Organization should be able to
craft its own set
of contingency measures and plan based on advisories from
relevant Philippine national agencies, the World Health
Organization and the local government where their office and
employees’ residences are located.
o Coordination with local government units including the local
police is encouraged.o Accredited foreign representatives and their
family members who believe they are
experiencing COVID-19 symptoms should contact their primary care
provider or the local government center where they reside.
o Diplomatic Missions and International Organizations are asked
to ensure the safety and well-being of their employees, including
locally hired personnel, ensuring that their health interests are
accommodated, labor rights respected and that the workplace is
adequately suited to ensure health and safety.
o Local government units, especially barangays, are integral to
the enforcement of measures relating to the ECQ and all entities,
including members of the Diplomatic Missions and International
Organizations, are covered by local community regulations.
● Who may we contact for further questions or inquiry?
The Department of Health (www.doh.gov.ph) is the primary source
of information and updates on the COVI-19 situation in the
Philippines. For further queries on visa, the Bureau of Immigration
may be reached at +63(2) 8465-2400 or +63(2) 8547-3769 (BI advisory
attached).
All further questions may be addressed to DFA Protocol thru
email at [email protected].