Filipinos from non-essential travel abroad must undergo quarantine at designated facility

A Filipino who returns to the country from a non-essential overseas trip must undergo quarantine at a government-designated facility while waiting for the result of the COVID-19 test, Malacañang said Thursday.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque issued the reminder after the Philippines lifted on Monday the ban on non-essential trips, including tourism.

“Iyong mga outbound Filipinos, pagbalik kinakailangan pong sumunod tayo sa protocol. Quarantine pa rin po iyan sa mga designated quarantine facilities habang hinihintay ang PCR testing,” he said in a televised briefing when asked if Filipinos will be required to spend quarantine at government-designated facilities such as hotels or at home.

“Pero makakapili na po kayo kung saang laboratory kayo magpapa-PCR testing.”

The Philippines’ COVID-19 task force earlier set conditions on the non-essential outbound travel by Filipinos.

These include the submission of confirmed roundtrip tickets for those traveling on tourist visas and adequate travel and health insurance to cover rebooking and accommodation expenses if stranded, and hospitalization in case of infection.

The country of destination should also have no entry ban for Filipinos and the traveler must execute a declaration acknowledging the risks in traveling as well as follow the COVID-19 guidelines for returning Filipinos such as the mandatory RT-PCR testing and quarantine. -NB, GMA News