Philippines: Officials to ease COVID-19 measures to level 2 rules in some areas, including Metro Manila, Feb. 1-15 /update 93

Event

Authorities will ease protocols to level 2 measures in some areas Feb. 1-15 due to lower COVID-19 activity. The localities under level 2 curbs, which are the second least stringent tier in a five-level system, include Metro Manila and Basilan, Batanes, Biliran, Bulacan, Cavite, Rizal, and Southern Leyte provinces. Additionally, officials will allow Ifugao, Kalinga, Mountain, and Northern Samar provinces to ease from the second-strictest level 4 measures to level 3 curbs.

Domestic Measures
Level 3 measures, the third-strictest in a five-tier system, will remain in effect in nearly all provinces and some cities Feb. 1-15. Affected cities include Angeles, Bacolod, Baguio, Butuan, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Cotabato, Dagupan, Davao, General Santos, Iligan, Iloilo, Isabela, Lapu-Lapu, Lucena, Mandaue, Naga, Olongapo, Ormoc, Puerto Princesa, Santiago, Tacloban, and Zamboanga.

The restrictions under the levels are as follows:

• Level 4: Residents aged below 18 or above 65 years old, and pregnant and immunocompromised people must remain at home in all areas, though some exemptions are in place. Meetings, incentives, conventions, and exhibitions (MICE), dine-in services, social gatherings, tourist attractions, and selected entertainment venues, may occur for fully vaccinated individuals at 10 and 30-percent capacity for indoor and outdoor locations, respectively. Locations considered as high-risk, like theatres, concert halls, and clubs, must close. No area is currently under Level 4 rules.

• Level 3: Intrazonal and interzonal travel is permitted. MICE events, dine-in services, social gatherings, tourist attractions, and selected entertainment venues, may open or take place for fully vaccinated individuals at 30- and 50-percent capacity for indoor and outdoor locations, respectively. Locations considered as high-risk must close.

• Level 2: Intrazonal and interzonal travel is permitted. More businesses, recreational venues, tourist attractions, and social gatherings may open or take place for fully vaccinated individuals at 50 and 70-percent capacity for indoor and outdoor venues, respectively. Theaters, concert halls, and clubs, among others, may operate.

Further details on business and social activities allowed under the respective alert levels can be found by clicking here. Facemasks are mandatory in public; face shields are necessary for localities under the strictest alert level 5 measures or granular lockdown.

Authorities are imposing localized lockdowns in around a thousand localities with high COVID-19 activity across the country; officials may enact similar rules in additional areas at short notice. Restrictions typically include suspending entry and exit from the localities and nonessential activities. Local jurisdictions may implement controls beyond those mandated by the central government. Cebu City is enacting a 23:00-04:00 nightly curfew.

President Rodrigo Duterte issued an order Jan. 6 that local officials ensure unvaccinated people nationwide remain at their residences except for essential activities like seeking medical help. Local officials in some areas may ban unvaccinated people from boarding public transport. However, the enforcement level of the order and any localized restrictions is unclear.

International Travel Restrictions
The government currently allows entry for foreign nationals from most locations if they have valid permitted visas, such as those for foreign spouses and children of Filipino citizens, resident diplomats, and seafarers, among others; the issuance of tourism visas remains suspended. People who can enter the Philippines must present a negative RT-PCR test result taken within 48 hours before departure. However, from Feb. 10, fully vaccinated arrivals from non-visa required countries and territories will be allowed to enter the Philippines for all purposes, including tourism; the list of non-visa required locations can be found here. Foreign citizens must adhere to protocols, including having passports that are valid for at least six months from the time of arrival and having outbound tickets.

Officials will lift quarantine requirements for fully vaccinated entrants from all international locations from Feb. 1. However, they must self-monitor their health for seven days. Arrivals who are not fully vaccinated from all international locations must quarantine at designated facilities for five days, obtain a negative result from an RT-PCR test on the fifth day, before continuing their quarantine at their residence until the 14th day after arrival. The government has also suspended the color-coded classification of international locations.

Authorities will require all foreign nationals who enter the Philippines to present evidence of full vaccination from Feb. 16; exceptions will be made for people with medical exemptions from receiving the vaccine and resident diplomats, among others.

Advice

Follow all official instructions. Abide by national health and safety measures. Reconfirm all travel arrangements. Consider delaying traveling if experiencing symptoms associated with COVID-19, as they may prompt increased scrutiny and delays. Liaise with trusted contacts for further updates and guidance. Maintain contact with your diplomatic representation. Ensure contingency plans account for further disruptive measures or extensions of current restrictions.

Resources

Presidential Communications Operations Office
State COVID-19 Portal
World Health Organization (WHO)