No foreigners, non-OFW Filipinos into the Philippines from March 20 to April 19

[Adventine 3,196]

Here we go again. Ah, Philippines. Sometimes it's just so hard to love you.

 

NTF: No foreigners, non-OFW Filipinos into the Philippines from March 20 to April 19 | Philstar.com

 

Full text of the resolution here: Facebook

 

[NeonParticles 126]

13A visa holder here, was just planning on making a trip over.

Son of a...

[Adventine 3,196]

11 minutes ago, NeonParticles said:

13A visa holder here, was just planning on making a trip over.

Son of a...

 

I feel for you.

 

I have the opposite problem. I'm in the US, and planned to arrive back in the PH only a few hours before the ban starts on March 20, 00:00. I'm already making backup plans if any of my flights are delayed, and if this ban is enforced without changes until April 19. 

 

I'm continuing to monitor because we will likely see more changes in the coming days. Sources originally broke the news saying that the ban would start on March 18, then revised it to March 20.

Edited March 16, 2021 by Adventine

[NeonParticles 126]

3 minutes ago, Adventine said:

 

I feel for you.

 

I have the opposite problem. I'm in the US, and planned to arrive back in the PH only a few hours before the ban starts on March 20, 00:00. I'm already making backup plans if any of my flights are delayed, and if this ban is enforced without changes until April 19. 

 

I'm continuing to monitor because we will likely see more changes in the coming days. Sources originally broke the news saying that the ban would start on March 18, then revised it to March 20.

Hope you got flexible flights if possible!  Good luck, that's a close call.

[Trompie 9]

4 minutes ago, Adventine said:

 

I feel for you.

 

I have the opposite problem. I'm in the US, and planned to arrive back in the PH only a few hours before the ban starts on March 20, 00:00. I'm already making backup plans if any of my flights are delayed, and if this ban is enforced without changes until April 19. 

 

I'm continuing to monitor because we will likely see more changes in the coming days. Sources originally broke the news saying that the ban would start on March 18, then revised it to March 20.

Will you not be able to return during this period even as a Filipino citizen? This is crazy

[NeonParticles 126]

2 minutes ago, Trompie said:

Will you not be able to return during this period even as a Filipino citizen? This is crazy

There's some exceptions but I think in general, no.

[Adventine 3,196]

7 minutes ago, Trompie said:

Will you not be able to return during this period even as a Filipino citizen? This is crazy

 

Based on the wording of the original resolution (see the Facebook link I posted), I will not qualify to enter during this period, because I am NOT an OFW (Overseas Filipino Worker). I'm only in the US as a tourist, on a trip meant only to last a couple of weeks.

 

It's funny and sad at the same time.

 

I fully expect the guidelines to change again in the coming days, depending on how loudly people complain. 

Edited March 16, 2021 by Adventine

[Trompie 9]

1 minute ago, Adventine said:

 

Based on the wording of the original resolution (see the Facebook link I posted), I will not qualify to enter during this period, because I am NOT an OFW (Overseas Filipino Worker). I'm only on the US as a tourist, on a trip meant only to last a couple of weeks.

 

It's funny and sad at the same time.

 

I fully expect the guidelines to change again in the coming days, depending on how loudly people complain. 

I hope this is not the case for you, but what if you are a Filipino on a temporary visa in another country which expires during the ban period? Not really asking the question, I'm just surprised at the extent of this ban.

[Adventine 3,196]

9 minutes ago, Trompie said:

I hope this is not the case for you, but what if you are a Filipino on a temporary visa in another country which expires during the ban period? Not really asking the question, I'm just surprised at the extent of this ban.

 

It won't be the case for me, because I was granted 6 months authorized stay on my tourist visa, but you are right, for others whose visa validities will expire during the ban (whether for US tourist visas or other countries), it is a major problem. Some may need to apply for extensions, or risk travelling and multiple cancellations.

 

[top_secret 2,421]

Maybe fake news. 

https://factcheck.afp.com/doctored-news-report-falsely-claims-philippine-government-shut-down-transportation-march-2021-curb

 

Or.... on closer examination.  Maybe real.  Hmmmm.  Needs closer investigation

Edited March 16, 2021 by top_secret

[Adventine 3,196]

3 minutes ago, top_secret said:

False alarm.  Seems to be fake news. Had me going for a minute though.

https://factcheck.afp.com/doctored-news-report-falsely-claims-philippine-government-shut-down-transportation-march-2021-curb

 

Thanks for sharing the link, but are you sure?

 

My original link is from Philippine Star (leading local newspaper): NTF: No foreigners, non-OFW Filipinos into the Philippines from March 20 to April 19 | Philstar.com  and concerns international arrivals.

 

Here's another source from Rappler (leading online news source): PH suspends entry of foreigners, non-OFW returnees (rappler.com)

 

The link you shared has slightly different dates and concerns domestic travel.

 

Edited March 16, 2021 by Adventine

[NeonParticles 126]

4 minutes ago, Adventine said:

 

Thanks for sharing the link, but are you sure?

 

My original link is from Philippine Star (leading local newspaper): NTF: No foreigners, non-OFW Filipinos into the Philippines from March 20 to April 19 | Philstar.com  and concerns international arrivals.

 

Here's another source from Rappler (leading online news source): PH suspends entry of foreigners, non-OFW returnees (rappler.com)

 

The link you shared has slightly different dates and concerns domestic travel.

 

More of the same with regards to Philippines news.  Separating fact from fiction is a rough task.  I trust Rappler and Philstar for the most part, though, so I'm going by what they say until retracted if false.

[top_secret 2,421]

 

3 minutes ago, Adventine said:

but are you sure?

I'm not sure about anything😁  I'm looking for the resolution from an official source.   this would directly impact our plans.

[Adventine 3,196]

Just now, top_secret said:

 

I'm not sure about anything😁  I'm looking for the resolution from an official source.   this would directly impact our plans.

Here you are, the full text of the resolution from the NTF (National Task Force) official Twitter account. A little hard to read.  

 

National Task Force Against COVID19 on Twitter: "LOOK: IATF EID Memorandum Circular No. 5, s. 2021 on "Temporary Suspension of Travel into the Philippines of Foreigners and Returning Overseas Filipinos (ROFs) who are Non-Overseas Filipino Workers (Non-OFWs)" 16 March 2021 #COVID19PH #WeHealAsOnePH https://t.co/f0lchNjbRf" / Twitter

[top_secret 2,421]

So I guess that vacation in Peru that the wife and I had planned is getting pushed out a couple of more weeks.  I 'think' Turkish Airlines has free changes.