PH to ban entry of foreigners, non-OFWs starting March 20

The Philippines is temporarily suspending the entry of foreigners and returning Filipinos who are not overseas Filipino workers for one month.

This was announced by the National Task Force Against COVID-19 (NTF) via a memorandum circular dated Tuesday, March 16. The memorandum was also posted on the Department of Health’s Facebook page.

The entry ban will start on Saturday, March 20, and end on April 19.

Meanwhile, the following are exempted from the ban:

• Holders of 9(e) visas
• Medical repatriation and their escorts as endorsed by the Department of Foreign Affairs – Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs (DFA-OUMWA) or the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA)
• Distressed returning OFWs as endorsed by the DFA-OUMWA
• Emergency, humanitarian, and other analogous cases as approved by the NTF

Earlier, the Civil Aeronautics Board announced that it is limiting the number of international arrivals to the Philippines to 1,500 passengers per day.

The NTF order cites the recent surge in COVID-19 cases in the country.

Banner photo by Philippine Star/Rudy Santos, file