Cebu Pacific domestic flights to and from Manila fully booked hours before quarantine

Budget carrier Cebu Pacific on Saturday afternoon said all of its domestic flights to and from Metro Manila were already fully booked, hours before the implementation of the community quarantine due to the COVID-19 threat.

The company also discouraged affected passengers from going to the airport or ticket offices for rebooking, refund or travel fund options.

The budget carrier advised instead that passengers manage their bookings online "for the health and safety of everyone."

"We will notify affected passengers via email addresses provided to us upon booking, once their bookings can be managed online. We are in the process of completing cancellations for March 15-April 14 flights in our system," the local carrier said.

President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday announced tougher measures to combat the spread of COVID-19, including work and class suspensions as well as travel restrictions, as part of community quarantine in Metro Manila.

The Philippines raised the Code Red Sub-Level 2 alert due to the COVID-19 threat.

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority said it will impose a curfew from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m., starting March 15 until April 14, in the National Capital Region as part of community quarantine measures. —Jamil Santos/KG, GMA News