FOLLOWING the one-week extension of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in the “National Capital Region (NCR) Plus,” Cebu Pacific has cancelled flights to some affected areas.
In a statement, Cebu Pacific (CEB) said only essential travel is allowed in and out of Metro Manila until April 11, 2021.
Because of this, CEB and Cebgo cancelled their flights going to Boracay, Kalibo, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Legazpi, Pagadian and San Jose.
The NCR and the provinces of Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna and Rizal dubbed “NCR Plus” have been placed under ECQ for another week to slow down the transmission of the Covid-19. The NCR accounts for the biggest number of Covid-19 cases in the country. Infections in the four provinces are also rising.
The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases has also approved the request of the local government of Western Visayas to suspend the acceptance of incoming passengers until April 10, 2021.
As a result, the flights from Manila to Iloilo, Roxas and Bacolod were cancelled. Flights from Cebu to Bacolod and Boracay (Caticlan) were also cancelled.
The Philippine Airlines (PAL), on the other hand, said its domestic flights to/ from Manila will continue to operate during the extension of the ECQ until April 11, subject to restrictions and requirements imposed by each local government unit.
Those allowed to travel during the ECQ period are: health/emergency frontline services personnel, government officials and frontline personnel, duly authorized humanitarian assistance actors, persons traveling for medical/humanitarian reasons, persons going to the airport for travel abroad, persons crossing zones for work or business permitted in the zone of destination, and going back home, returning or repatriated overseas Filipino workers and other returning overseas Filipinos returning to their places of residence and locally stranded individuals.
Meanwhile, international flights remained operational during the ECQ period, subject to passenger arrival limitations at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. (JOB)