Photo credit: Doha PE photo
Doha: On its fifth chartered flight, the Philippine Embassy in Doha repatriated 354 Overseas Filipino (OF) passengers on July 29, 2020. Among the passengers include seven infants, 23 pregnant women, and six individuals with medical conditions.
The Filipino repatriates arrived safely in the country via a chartered flight of the Philippines Airlines (PAL).
In five charter flights over 1600 people have gone back to the Philippines. The first charter flight left on May 20.
The Embassy officials and personnel were at the airport to see off and assist the repatriates with airport and airline authorities during their check-in.
“The mounting of the chartered flight was a result of close coordination between the Embassy/Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) and relevant authorities in Qatar, such as the Supreme Committee for Crisis Management, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Administrative Development, Labor and Social Affairs, the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority, the Hamad International Airport, and Qatar Airways,” embassy said in a statement on its website.
The Bureau of Immigration of the Republic of the Philippines also announced updated temporary travel restrictions for inbound and outbound passengers as of August 9, 2020.
In compliance with the directives from Malacañang, as recommended by the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID), the following shall be allowed to enter the Philippines:
- Filipinos
- Foreign spouse and minor children of Filipinos
- Children with special needs (regardless of age) of Filipinos * ~
- Foreign parent of minor Filipinos * ~
- Foreign parent of Filipino children with special needs (regardless of age) * ~
- Accredited foreign government and international organization officials and their dependents *
- Foreign airline crew members
- Foreign seafarers with 9(c) visa *
- Foreign nationals with the following long-term visas: *
(1) Section 13 series of Commonwealth Act No. 613, as amended
• 13 Quota, 13(a), 13(b), 13(C), 13(d), 13(e), 13(g) visas
(2) RA 7919 visa
(3) EO 324 visa
(4) Native Born visa
(5) Temporary Resident Visa relative to Section 13 of CA 613, as amended (based on Memorandum Order (MO) NO. ADD-01-038/ ADD-02-015)
(6) MCL-07-021 Permanent Resident Visa based on Section 13(a) of CA 613 under MO No. MCL-07-021
* Upon compliance with the 4 IATF conditions
~ Must apply for an entry visa at the nearest Philippine Foreign Service Post
Additional requirements for arriving foreigners effective on August 9, 2020
In compliance with the directives from Malacañang as recommended by the IATF-EID.
- Must have a valid and existing visa at the time of entry;
- With pre-booked accredited quarantine facility;
- With pre-booked COVID-19 testing provider;
- Subject to the maximum capacity of inbound passengers as set by the National Task Force for COVID-19.
Temporary departure travel restrictions
In compliance with the directives from Malacañang, as recommended by the Inter Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID), only the following shall be allowed to exit the Philippines:
- Foreign nationals
- Overseas Filipino workers *
- Permanent visa holders *
- Students enrolled abroad and participants accepted in exchange visitor programs
Essential travel of Filipinos for business and work, medical, emergency, and other humanitarian reasons may be allowed subject to sufficient supporting documents. *
* Does not apply where the destination has existing travel restriction
