FROM Thursday, Feb. 10, 2022, Cebu province will accept foreign travelers, whether from non-visa-required or visa-required countries, as approved under Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases Resolution 160-B issued last week.
And from March, it will also admit unvaccinated foreign nationals, according to Executive Order (EO) 3, series of 2022 issued by Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia on Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2022.
This is a way to gradually revive the tourism industry in the country and the fortunes of the local government units which have been severely affected by the ongoing coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic.
Garcia’s EO 3 contains the rules to be followed by those who wish to visit and explore Cebu.
For foreigners from non-visa-required countries who are fully vaccinated against Covid-19, they need to present a vaccination card or proof of vaccination against Covid-19 permitted by the IATF, and a negative RT-PCR (reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction) test taken within 48 hours prior to the date and time of departure from the country of origin or first port of embarkation in a continuous travel to the Philippines, provided they did not leave the airport premises or were not admitted into another country during layovers.
Proof of vaccination must be presented prior to departure from the country of origin, as well as on arrival in Cebu.
They must also have “valid tickets for their return journey to the port of origin or next port of destination not later than 30 days from date of arrival in the Philippines” and travel insurance for Covid-19 treatment costs for a coverage of at least US$35,000 for the duration of their stay in the country.
They will not undergo facility-based quarantine in Cebu but will just self-monitor for symptoms for seven days.
Nationals from 157 countries may be admitted into the Philippines without a visa for an initial stay of 30 days, according to the Bureau of Immigration.
These countries include Canada, Japan, Singapore, USA, New Zealand, Malaysia and South Korea.
Visa required
For vaccinated foreign nationals from visa-required countries, they need to present the Entry Exemption Document issued under IATF regulations, in addition to presenting proof of vaccination, a negative RT-PCR test taken within 48 hours prior to the date and time of departure from the country of origin or first port of embarkation in a continuous travel to the Philippines.
They also will not undergo facility-based quarantine but will self-monitor for symptoms for seven days.
If they experience symptoms of Covid-19, tourists are instructed to inform the management of the hotel or resort in which they are billeted so that the local government unit (LGU) may also be informed.
At that point, the foreigner must be subjected to a rapid antigen test or an RT-PCR test.
If he tests positive in the Covid test, he must isolate and strictly follow health and quarantine protocols.
If it is necessary to take the foreigner to an isolation facility or hospital, the LGU is tasked to coordinate with the Department of Health for the patient’s referral.
Unvaccinated
Starting March 1, unvaccinated and partially vaccinated, or foreign nationals whose vaccination status cannot be independently determined can enter the Cebu airport only if they present a negative RT-PCR test taken within 48 hours before departing from their country of origin.
Such passengers will be subjected to a swab test on arrival.
They are also required to observe quarantine in a facility until the release of the result of their second RT-PCR test taken on the fifth day of their quarantine.
Such individuals are encouraged to get vaccinated against Covid-19 during their stay in Cebu.
For this purpose, the Department of Health Central Visayas (DOH 7) will make available the single-dose Janssen (Johnson and Johnson) vaccine for unvaccinated foreign nationals. It is free and there is no charge for getting vaccinated.
The Cebu Provincial Government first met with consul generals of Japan, Korea and China, officials of the Department of Tourism, tour operators, and representatives of the DOH 7, and the Mactan-Cebu International Airport prior to the issuance of EO 3, to come up with a unified approach to the entry of tourists to Cebu Province.