Despite the beginnings of a
vaccination drive in key areas of the country, the Philippines still reels from
a renewed rise of added cases of COVID-19 infection. Also alarming is the
increasing number of instances that a local COVID case is that of a new mutated
strain, especially from overseas like the UK, or South Africa and elsewhere.
With Metro Manila remaining the epicenter of the global pandemic’s presence in
the country, the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) has decided to take steps to cut
down on travellers arriving by air through the Ninoy Aquino International
Airport (NAIA), starting this Thursday.
According to the Philippine Star, as of March 18, the
amount of overseas arrivals via airlines on NAIA will be capped at only 1,500 a
day, per day for a whole month. This was first announced by the CAB back in
Tuesday, March 16, with a warning that international airlines with flights
arriving in Manila could be penalized if they surpass the daily cap. The 1,500
limit applies to both incoming balikbayan
Filipinos as well as foreigners, with the latter not being discriminated by
race. The aviation regulators have not given reason for capping arrivals.
The imposition of a limit in daily
overseas air arrivals comes about five months since the first easing of flight
restrictions at airports across the country, especially NAIA which serves as
the gateway to Manila. It is also in line with ground-based restrictions being
enacted by Metro Manila LGUs and other concerned government agencies, in the
hope of reining in the new COVID upsurge which threatens to put receiving
hospitals back in critical patient levels like last year. Already localized
community lockdowns have been put in effect, along with attempts to make curfew
hours uniform.
While the national flag carrier
Philippine Airlines (PAL) announced its intention to comply, they did advise
that their March 18 flights will arrive at NAIA as scheduled. They will only
begin limiting passengers come Friday and onward, until the month-long daily
cap ends April 18.
Image courtesy of Rappler
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