Updated New Quarantine Procedures (Philippines)

[Jack D]

As I mentioned in another topic, I'll be travelling to the Philippines in few days, and I just learned that the COVID-19 quarantine rules have changed.

Previously, the Bureau of Quarantine told me that if I tested negative for COVID-19, I would be FREE from any type of further quarantines [except for the first one, that involves waiting for the test results (1 - 2 days)]. 

BUT now the rules have been changed, and I'll need to be quarantined for 14 additional days (even if I test negative)... YIKES! If I didn't need to go to the Philippines ASAP to take care of a time-sensitive issue, I'd stay home.

Travel Advisory # 58
PHL Local Time: 11 May 2020

To All International Passengers Arriving in the Philippines:

The Philippine government is implementing stricter quarantine and testing procedures for all arriving passengers, effective immediately, under a new directive from the Inter-Agency Task Force on COVID-19.

Upon arrival, all passengers will undergo a swab test (RT PCR Covid 19 testing) to be performed by trained personnel from the Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ).

While awaiting test results, passengers must stay either in a government-designated stringent quarantine facility or in a BOQ approved quarantine hotel.

Payment for accommodation in a government-designated quarantine facility shall be based on the following guidelines:

1. For land-based OFWs, the cost shall be shouldered by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration;

2. For sea-based OFWs, cost shall be shouldered by the Maritime Industry Authority or by the local manning agency;

3. All other travelers (Filipino or foreign nationals), who are non-OFWs, will pay for the cost of their accommodation.

Accommodation in a BOQ-approved quarantine hotel will be to passengers' own cost, regardless if they are OFWs or not.

Travelers whose test results are positive will be transferred to a designated hospital for further medical management.

Travelers whose test results are negative will be allowed to move out and undergo a 14-day quarantine at home or at an appropriate local monitoring facility.

For more details and information on these new requirements and related concerns, you may call the government's One Stop Shop hotline number +63 9161019964.
 
These new procedures and requirements are meant to protect your health and safety. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. 

https://www.philippineairlines.com/en/aboutus/newsandevents/advisory-covid19-11may20-58

[Tukaram (Tim)]

I thought the 14 day quarantine had been in place. 

[scott h]

18 minutes ago, Jack D said:

Travelers whose test results are negative will be allowed to move out and undergo a 14-day quarantine

now this make less sense than a husband and wife not being able to sit at a restaurant table without barriers in place. 

If you are given a test, placed in isolation pending results, and the test is negative, why on earth would you then need to be isolated again? 

 

[BC57]

26 minutes ago, Jack D said:

As I mentioned in another topic, I'll be travelling to the Philippines in few days, and I just learned that the COVID-19 quarantine rules have changed.

Previously, the Bureau of Quarantine told me that if I tested negative for COVID-19, I would be FREE from any type of further quarantines [except for the first one, that involves waiting for the test results (1 - 2 days)]. 

BUT now the rules have been changed, and I'll need to be quarantined for 14 additional days (even if I test negative)... YIKES! If I didn't need to go to the Philippines ASAP to take care of a time-sensitive issue, I'd stay home.

Travel Advisory # 58
PHL Local Time: 11 May 2020

To All International Passengers Arriving in the Philippines:

The Philippine government is implementing stricter quarantine and testing procedures for all arriving passengers, effective immediately, under a new directive from the Inter-Agency Task Force on COVID-19.

Upon arrival, all passengers will undergo a swab test (RT PCR Covid 19 testing) to be performed by trained personnel from the Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ).

While awaiting test results, passengers must stay either in a government-designated stringent quarantine facility or in a BOQ approved quarantine hotel.

Payment for accommodation in a government-designated quarantine facility shall be based on the following guidelines:

1. For land-based OFWs, the cost shall be shouldered by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration;

2. For sea-based OFWs, cost shall be shouldered by the Maritime Industry Authority or by the local manning agency;

3. All other travelers (Filipino or foreign nationals), who are non-OFWs, will pay for the cost of their accommodation.

Accommodation in a BOQ-approved quarantine hotel will be to passengers' own cost, regardless if they are OFWs or not.

Travelers whose test results are positive will be transferred to a designated hospital for further medical management.

Travelers whose test results are negative will be allowed to move out and undergo a 14-day quarantine at home or at an appropriate local monitoring facility.

For more details and information on these new requirements and related concerns, you may call the government's One Stop Shop hotline number +63 9161019964.
 
These new procedures and requirements are meant to protect your health and safety. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. 

https://www.philippineairlines.com/en/aboutus/newsandevents/advisory-covid19-11may20-58

Why not use the rapid test kit? Get results in about 15 minutes. That way nobody has to go stay at a hotel and quarantine facility.

[Jack D]

57 minutes ago, Tukaram (Tim) said:

I thought the 14 day quarantine had been in place.

The quarantine rules seem to vary from province to province, and from barangay to barangay. My in-laws are still quarantined with just one exception--i.e., one adult family member can go grocery shopping for only one day of each week, but they need an official pass to do so.

In my case, I was told that the 1 - 2 days of quarantining for test results (if negative) would be it... BUT The latest announcement from the Bureau of Quarantine states:

"The Philippine government is implementing stricter quarantine and testing procedures for all arriving passengers, effective immediately, under a new directive from the Inter-Agency Task Force on COVID-19," which changes everything that I was previously told by them.
 

[Jack D]

45 minutes ago, BC57 said:

Why not use the rapid test kit? Get results in about 15 minutes. That way nobody has to go stay at a hotel and quarantine facility.

Are you sure about this? I believe that the Philippine government will want to do their own testing upon my arrival.

[Jack D]

53 minutes ago, scott h said:

now this make less sense than a husband and wife not being able to sit at a restaurant table without barriers in place. 

This is very similar to how Philippine Airlines will probably not allow my wife and I to sit together on our flight.  

[graham59]

More headless chicken nonsense, likely to change another half dozen times before you board a plane.

Just keep all your options open, and hope that sanity returns soon. 

[RBM]

51 minutes ago, Jack D said:

 

In my case, I was told that the 1 - 2 days of quarantining for test results (if negative) would be it... BUT The latest announcement from the Bureau of Quarantine states:

"

Two days......I have read instances where people have been waiting weeks....

[BC57]

56 minutes ago, Jack D said:

Are you sure about this? I believe that the Philippine government will want to do their own testing upon my arrival.

Sure about the 15 minutes? A simple google search will show various information. The US started using the rapid test kits awhile back as people drove through checkpoints.