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

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.

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.

● 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 oca.visa@dfa.gov.ph. 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 (xinfo@immigration.gov.ph). 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.

● 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 op@dfa.gov.ph.