MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Thursday (April 8) announced anew that foreign parents, spouses and children of Filipino citizens cannot enter the Philippines if they are not traveling with the latter.

In a statement, BI Commissioner Jaime Morente reiterated that said existing guidelines on international travel set by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) do not allow the entry of foreign parents, spouses, and children of Filipinos if they are traveling alone.

Also, said foreigners should possess valid visas secured in the country’s foreign posts abroad to be able to enter the country.

Morente added that the Balikbayan privilege, which allows the visa-free entry of foreign spouses and children of Filipinos, remains suspended.

The reminder was issued following reports that a handful of aliens were denied at the airports for attempting to enter the country without their Filipino spouse, children, or parent.

Morente stressed that airlines are directed to ensure that only foreigners eligible to enter the country during the implementation of the travel restrictions are allowed to board their Philippine-bound flights.

The Philippines reimposed a ban on the entry of foreigners last month amid the resurgence in the number of COVID-19 cases in the country.

The ban, which started last March 22, remains in effect until April 21.

Aside from prohibiting the entry of foreigners, the IATF also ordered a reduction in the number of inbound international travelers to only 1,500 a day.

MANILA, Philippines – The Bureau of Customs (BOC) NAIA on Tuesday, March 16, donated various educational gadgets and other school supplies to the Department of Education (DepEd) in support of the Department’s Bridge Program.

The donation of abandoned goods consists of flash drives, cellphones, 74 V7 monitors, 50 Fuji Xerox Multifunction Printers, Laptops , Routers, 14 ZTE Pocket WIFI, Lenovo Tablet, Computer Monitors, school bags, educational books, and children school shoes.
In his statement Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero expressed the continuing support of the BOC to the DepEd.

“We understand the needs of the students especially during this time that education is hindered by the threat of COVID-19. We will continue to support DepEd’s programs to provide quality education to our students,” he said.

For her part Secretary Briones thanked the Bureau for its continuous support to DepEd and the Department’s Bridge and Distant Learning Program.

She also shared that the first donation of BOC consisting of mobile phones and laptops are now being distributed to schools in far flung areas.

Finance Undersecretary Antonette Tionko on the other hand expressed hope that the devices and goods turned over to the DepEd would help address the digital gap and ensure continuous education, promoting the utmost welfare of learners and educators amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

MANILA, Philippines – The Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) has imposed a cap on all international inbound arrivals at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

The directive allows only a maximum of 1,500 passenger arrivals per day from March 18 to April 18.

To comply with the restriction, airlines will need to cancel a number of international flights as they are advised to adhere to the directives from the Bureau of Immigration on the travelers that will be allowed entry into the country within the same one month period.

“Airlines operating in NAIA that will exceed the allowed capacity will be meted with the appropriate penalty,” CAB warned.

The directive is in pursuant to the Joint Memorandum Circular signed in January this year by CAB with Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA), Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC) and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP).