ADVISORY

LIFTING OF TRAVEL BAN FOR OFWs 

            On 12 March 2020, President Rodrigo R. Duterte announced, among others, that Overseas Filipino Workers may be allowed to travel to mainland China, except Hubei Province, upon the execution of a declaration signifying their knowledge and understanding of the risks involved in their travel.

            In view of this, all Filipino workers bound for Chongqing, Yunnan, Guizhou, and Sichuan are advised to do the following:

1. Ensure that all your documents as Balik Manggagawa are ready and in order. If not, kindly attend to them as soon as possible to avoid any difficulty later on.

2. Contact and coordinate with your human resource office or employer regarding your return. Please be informed that some companies, particularly those in the education sector, are still awaiting formal announcement on the resumption of work or have special work arrangements. Reaching out to your employer will allow you to plan ahead the date of your travel to China to return to your work.

3. Inquire with your human resource regarding special documents and requirements that you must comply with as part of your return to your work, including self-quarantine and the like.

4. Consider the impact of the implementation of a community quarantine in Metro Manila from 15 March 2020 to 14 April 2020 and suspension of land and domestic air and sea travel to and from Metro Manila. If you are from outside Metro Manila, you may consider flights through other international airports, such as Clark and Cebu.

5. Keep yourself abreast of developments in the Philippines and changes in the announcement of the Government, such as those pertaining to community quarantine. 

For specific inquiries, you may directly contact the concerned entities or government agencies in the Philippines regarding your concerns, such as the airline company for cancelation or adjustment of flights, the POEA for your required certificate, the Bureau of Immigration for special requirements on boarding and processing, and so on.

Please be guided accordingly.

Chongqing, 13 March 2020.