Guidelines Set for Resumption of Domestic Flights in Albay

The provincial government of Albay has set the guidelines for Covid-19 preventive measures and reporting procedures for in-bound airline passengers and connecting flights.

Domestic flights in Albay will resume on June 15. The Philippine Airlines (PAL) has announced resumption of flights to and from Manila-Legazpi and Cebu-Legazpi.

Cebu Pacific also plans to mount flights for Manila-Legazpi and vice-versa and will publish the schedule once finalized.

Under the Executive Order no. 22 issued by Albay governor Al Francis Bichara, airline companies and private aircraft operators bound for Albay as final destination are subjected to comply with health standards and protocols pursuant to the guidelines issued by the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) and the Department of Transportation (DOTr).

Boarding passengers must present originally printed copies of Covid-19 travel documents issued by their respective and concerned agencies from the place of origin. Electronic and digital copies will not be accepted.

These documents include the travel authority issued by the PNP, Locally Stranded Individuals (LSI) Form, medical clearance certification from the city/municipal health office. Returning OFWs must present negative PT-PCR result and quarantine certification issued by DOH-Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ).

Passengers are also required to fully accomplish Health and Travel Declaration forms to be given and collected by airline crew for submission to the BOQ and the Albay Provincial Health Office.

“No passenger shall be allowed to deplane unless a complete and duly accomplished form is submitted,” Bichara cited.

Likewise, minimum health standards shall be implemented such as wearing of mask for passengers and availability of disinfection mats. Passenger cabins must also be disinfected.

Protocols in Entry/Arrival Procedures and Receiving LGUs

In compliance with the Bicol IATF quarantine rules, LGUs are required to impose a 14-day quarantine period for authorized persons outside residence (APOR) and returning residents coming from Metro Manila or other areas with confirmed community transmission.

“Hence all LSIs upon arrival in Albay must report immediately to their respective LGU for documentation and proper medical disposition subject to local regulations and procedures on quarantine using local facility or domicile,” Bichara said.

The governor also directed receiving LGUs, along with Legazpi City as host of the domestic airport to coordinate with concerned city/municipal LGUs to facilitate and arrange for the transport of passengers to their respective facility in the absence of mass or personal transportation.

Flight Schedule

For PAL, flights for Manila-Legazpi v.v are set on Tuesdays-Sundays while Cebu-Legazpi v.v. flights are set on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.

Cebu Pac has yet to finalize the schedule. (SAA-PIA5/Albay)