The Philippine Embassy informs the public that further to NTF Memorandum Circular No. 5, series of 2021, the National Task Force has subsequently issued Memorandum Circular No. 6, series of 2021, the salient provisions of which are cited hereunder:
“1. All Filipino citizens whether a returning Overseas Filipinos or Overseas Filipino Workers shall be allowed to return to the Philippines;
“2. Effective 0001H of 22 March 2021 to 2359H of 21 April 2021, the entry of foreign nationals shall be temporarily suspended, except for the following:
“Diplomats and members of international organizations, and their dependents provided they hold a valid 9(e) visa or 47(a)(2) visa, as the case may be, at the time of entry,
“Foreign nationals involved in medical repatriation duly endorsed by the Department of Foreign Affairs – Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs (DFA-OUMWA) and Overseas Filipino Workers Administration (OWWA), provided that they have a valid visa at the time of entry;
“Foreign seafarers under the ‘’Green Lanes’’ program for crew change provided that they hold a 9(c) crew list visa at the time of entry;
“Foreign spouses and children of Filipino citizens travelling with them provided they have valid visas at the time of entry, and
“Emergency, humanitarian, and other analogous cases approved by the Chairperson of the NTF-COVID-19 or his duly authorized representative, provided the foreign nationals have a valid visas at the time of entry.”
“The foregoing is without prejudice to immigration laws, rules and regulations such that the Commissioner for Immigration shall have the exclusive prerogative to decide on the waiver or recall of exclusion orders for all foreign nationals authorized entry under relevant IATF resolutions, subject to the regular reporting to the IATF secretariat at the end of each calendar month.
“During the period 0001H of 22 March 2021 to 2359H of 21 April 2021, the travel of Filipinos and exempted foreign nationals shall be subject to the arrival quota set by the Philippine Department of Transportation (DOTr).
“Memorandum Circular No. 06 supersedes Memorandum Circular No. 5, s. 2021. All issuances issued by the NTF-COVID-19 which are inconsistent with this Memorandum Circular are hereby deemed repealed or modified accordingly.’’
As stated, Filipino citizens, whether a returning Overseas Filipino (OF) or Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW), shall be allowed to return to the Philippines.
The travel restriction for foreign nationals effective 0001H of 22 March 2021 to 2359H of 21 April 2021 shall be applied at all Philippine Ports nationwide. However, the cap on the daily inbound international arrivals, earlier determined by NTF-COVID—19, shall only cover the NAIA terminals in Manila.
Medical repatriation and repatriation of distressed overseas Filipino
It is the concerned Philippine authorities, notably the Department of Health and the Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila, inter alia, that will decide on the request for exemption on medical repatriation and repatriation of distressed overseas Filipinos.
Below are the specific documentary requirements of medical repatriation and repatriation of distressed OFs, which should be submitted to the Embassy at least five working (5) days prior to entry into the Philippines:
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CLASSIFICATION |
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTARY REQUIREMENTS |
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MEDICAL REPATRIATION [Section 2(ii) of NTF MC No. 6, s. 2021] |
For Land-based OFWs: · Copies of the Passport Biopages of the Medical Repatriate and escorts/s; · Contact information of the Medical Repatriate's Next-of-Kin (NOK) in the Philippines; · Copy of Flight Itinerary of Medical Repatriate; · Copy of Flight Itinerary with immediate return flight within 24 hours of Escort/s; Duly accomplished Unified Medical Repatriation Assistance Form (UMRAF) with attached medical records/ medical abstract/medical discharge slip/medical certificates and diagnosis pertinent to the medical repatriation · Duly accomplished Updated Repatriation Investigation Form (RIF) · Copy of Certificate of Acceptance of the Receiving Hospital in the Philippines, in cases of hospital quarantine; · Copy of Certificate of Acceptance of the Receiving Barangay or Local Government Unit in the Philippines, in cases of home quarantine; and · Copy of BOQ Exemption or Certificate of No Objection from the mandatory facility-based quarantine issued in favor of the Medical Repatriate For Sea-based OFWs: · Copies of the Passport Biopages of the Medical Repatriate and escort/s; · Contact information of the Medical Repatriate's Local Manning Agency (LMA) and/or receiving medical team at the airport; · Copy of Flight Itinerary of the Medical Repatriate; · Copy of Flight Itinerary with immediate return flight within 24 hours of Escort/s; · Duly accomplished UMRAF with Medical records/ abstract/medical discharge slip/ medical certificates and pertinent to the medical repatriation; · Duly accomplished Updated Repatriation Investigation Form (RIF); · Copy of Certificate of Acceptance of the Receiving Hospital in the Philippines, in cases of hospital quarantine; · Copy of pre-booked quarantine facility, if any; For Non-OFWs: · Copies of the Passport Biopages of the Medical Repatriate and escort/s; · Contact information of the Medical Repatriate's Next-of-Kin (NOK) in the Philippines; · Copy of Flight Itinerary of Medical Repatriate; · Copy of Flight Itinerary with immediate return flight within 24 hours of Escort/s; · Duly accomplished Unified Medical Repatriation Assistance Form (UMRAF) with attached medical records/ medical abstract/medical discharge slip/medical certificates, diagnosis, certificate to of fitness to fly and other pertinent in support to the medical repatriation · Duly accomplished Updated Repatriation Investigation Form (RIF) · Copy of Certificate of Acceptance of the Receiving Hospital in the Philippines, in cases of hospital quarantine; · Copy of Certificate of Acceptance of the Receiving Barangay or Local Government Unit in the Philippines, in cases of home quarantine; and · Copy of BOQ Exemption or Certificate of No Objection from the mandatory facility-based quarantine issued in favor of the Medical Repatriate |
Returning medical repatriate and his/her escort/s are instructed to comply with the following:
- Send directly the following documents to the Department of Health – One Hospital Command Center (DOF-OHCC); and
- Letter of Intent;
- Acceptance Letter (from the LGU or receiving hospital); and
- Supporting Medical Abstract and Documents/Records;
- The email addresses of the DOH-OHCC are as follows:
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- Accomplish this Google Form Sheet:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScPXgoSqJfder1wCp_nPLWb2AeX2T95K_kaJcbwSRTMPzzUKw/viewform?gxids=7628
- Kindly note that it is the Department of Health which will issue the necessary
- Submission of complete documentary requirements is imperative.
Below are copies of Memorandum Circular No. 6, s. 2021, UMRAF, and the updated RIF for reference.
Please be guided accordingly.
IATF Memorandum Circular No. 6, s. 2021
https://bernepe.dfa.gov.ph/images/Repatriation_Investigation_Form_RIF.pdf
https://bernepe.dfa.gov.ph/images/Unified_Medical_Repatriation_Assistance_Form.pdf
