Ports to remain open, but ships recently from China may not disembark crew —PPA

Ports in the country will remain open to all ships, including those originating from China and its Special Administrative Regions, amid the novel coronavirus scare, the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) said Tuesday.

However, crew members of any vessel that called in China or either of its SARs within 14 days before its arrival in the Philippines will be prohibited from disembarking.

In a statement, PPA General Manager Jay Santiago said an entry ban would "paralyze" the country's imports and exports.

“We cannot afford to ban the entry of international ships to our shores in the midst of this nCoV ARD scare as doing so will surely paralyze our supply chain as most of our imports and exports go to the hub ports located in China and its SARs,” Santiago said.

According to Santiago, visitors will also be barred within the period to minimize interaction with the crew.

“We also noted that vessel operators also change crew at some point in the voyage of the vessel, and if such case happens in the Philippines, the crew who will be replaced shall undergo strict quarantine period and only be allowed to go home if cleared by the Department of Health,” Santiago added.

He clarified that ships who arrive in the country more than 14 days after originating from a port in China or its regions will be allowed to dock without restrictions.

“Shipping operators need not worry as long as you follow this condition and those listed in the guidelines of the Bureau of Quarantine relative to concerns with [the] declaration of public health emergency with international concern, you can call at any Philippine port,” he said.

The country has tightened security at airports and ports due to the virus.

Meanwhile, the Bureau of Immigration last week suspended the issuance of tourist visas on arrival to Chinese nationals.

On January 30, the Department of Health said a 38-year-old Chinese woman from Wuhan, China tested positive for the virus. Her 44-year-old Chinese male companion, who became the second person testing positive for nCoV in the Philippines, died on Saturday.

The number of persons under investigation for possible nCoV infection has climbed to 105. — Joahna Lei Casilao/BM, GMA News