Temporary travel ban to/from China & its Special Administrative Areas

06 Feb 2020 / Philippines

The Philippines’ Bureau of Immigration has today (6 February) issued a memorandum which temporarily bans the entry of any person (except Filipino citizens and holders of Permanent resident Visas) from coming from China and its Special Administrative Regions (Hong Kong and Macau). The memorandum also temporarily bans any such person who has within the past 14 days preceding arrival in the Philippines been to China and its Special Administrative Regions.

Further, there is a mandatory 14-day quarantine for Filipinos and Permanent Resident Visa holders coming from any place in China and its Special Administrative Regions. There is also a temporary ban on Filipinos travelling to China and its Special Administrative Regions.

The following guidelines must be observed during arrival formalities:

  1. Quarantine – Immigration – Customs boarding protocol must be strictly observed.
  2. All cruise ships with passengers, regardless of nationality, who within 14 days immediately before arriving in the Philippines, have been to China and its SARs, are not allowed to dock at any Philippine port.
    No shore passes and disembarkation clearance shall be granted to any crew or passengers onboard a vessel, regardless of nationality, who within 14 days immediately before arriving in the Philippines, have been to China and its SARs (Department of Health Department Circular No.2020-0034 issued on 4 February 2020)
  3. All cargo vessels calling from China and its SARs within 14 days immediately preceding arrival must be boarded at the Quarantine Anchorage.
  4. Boarding formalities shall be conducted on vessels only with issued free pratique by the Bureau of Quarantine.
  5. The local manning agency or consignee must submit a Notice of Arrival of vessels with the Voyage memo indicating all ports of call within 14 days immediately preceding arrival in the Philippines, at least 24 hours prior to arrival.
  6. All boarding officers shall conduct a confirmatory inspection to all arriving crews and passengers:
    - Check the Voyage Memo for previous ports of call;
    - Review previous travel history through inspection of travel document, passport or seafarer’s book; and
    - Turn over crew and passengers with travel history to China and its SARs to the Bureau of Quarantine.
  7. No approval for sign-off/repatriation during the quarantine period shall be granted to foreign seafarers from vessels which, within 14 days immediately preceding arrival in the Philippines, travelled to China and its SARs.

The following guidelines shall be observed during departure formalities:

  1. No departure clearance shall be granted to Filipino passengers and seafarers who intend to join/embark any marine vessel with next port of call to China and its SARs;
  2. Filipinos who are travelling to China and its SARs shall be prohibited unless they are a member of the World Health Organization or umbrella agency involved with the Novel Corona Virus, or is travelling as part of a government delegation conducting official duties.

For further details/updates, and information about operations in the Philippines, contact GAC Philippines at [email protected]

If quoting any content from Hot Port News, please cite GAC Hot Port News as the source.

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