Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases spokesperson Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles on Thursday announced that foreign cruise ships carrying Filipino crew members will be allowed to dock in Manila subject to guidelines to be issued by the IATF.
Nograles said that per IATF Resolution No. 24, “foreign cruise ships carrying Filipino crew shall be allowed to dock in ports in Manila and to be used as a quarantine facility for said Filipino crew members, subject to the guidelines to be issued by the member agencies of the Sub-Task Group for the Repatriation of Overseas Filipino Workers pursuant to their respective mandates.”
Foreign crew will be allowed to leave the country after completing the 14-day mandatory quarantine on disembarkation.
According to Nograles, the foreign crew onboard the foreign cruise ships “shall be allowed to disembark in Manila for the sole purpose of taking outbound flights to their final destination abroad.”
The Palace official added that the foreign crew will be allowed to leave the country provided they have completed the 14-day mandatory quarantine upon disembarkation.
Nograles also shared that the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has reported that two ships to be used as quarantine facilities have already started operations.
“The PCG kicked off the operations of the quarantine ships by welcoming 90 repatriated Filipino seafarers from South Korea, Indonesia, and Qatar last Tuesday,” said the Cabinet member.
After being screened, the seafarers were provided with individual room accommodations where they will be required to undergo the mandatory 14-day quarantine period, said Nograles.
“Yung iba na may nauna nang hotel bookings na inayos ng OWWA (Overseas Worders Welfare Administration) ay mananatili na sa nasabing mga hotel para sa kanilang 14-day quarantine, matapos magsagawa ng medical profiling ang PCG medical teams.”
Since the outbreak, the OWWA has extended assistance to 10,240 stranded OFWs, provided free food packs for 3,688 seafarers, provided transport for 3,347 OFWs, and provided 2,641 temporary shelters for OFWs.