MANILA – All passenger and commercial flights to and from the Philippines have been temporarily suspended by the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) on Sunday amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
The MIAA said the suspension is in accordance with the government’s decision coursed through National Task Force Against COVID-19 chief implementer Carlito Galvez Jr.
Based on Inter-Agency Task Force Resolution 30, delivery services, whether in-house or outsourced, transporting food medicine, or other essential goods will be allowed via land, air or sea travel.
Public transportation, however, is still prohibited under high-risk areas under the enhanced community quarantine until May 15. Only the transit of essential workers and workers from approved services and industries in these areas are allowed.
“Cargo flights, medical supplies, utility, and maintenance flights will remain unhampered,” the MIAA said in a social media post.
Department of Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade has earlier urged the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines and other airport officials to consider opening airports in areas under the general community quarantine to make commercial flights available to passengers to gradually jump-start airline operations hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Philippines has a total of 8,928 COVID-19 cases, with 1,124 recoveries. To date, a total of 603 individuals have succumbed from the infection./PN
