AMID the sharp spike in the daily recorded cases of COVID-19 infections, the government is imposing a limit to the number of people entering the Philippines.
Interviewed over the radio, National Task Force Against COVID-19 spokesperson Restituto Padilla said that starting March 18, the country’s premier airport – the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, would be implementing the order which would last until April 18.
“Sa 18, bukas. Sa instruction sa NTF, sabi ni Sec. [Carlito] Galvez, implement as soon as possible kasi ‘yun ‘yung ating ginagawang contingency measures para matulungan na bumaba ‘yung bilang ng COVID-19,” Padilla said.
He explained that the government is doing its best to arrest the sharp surge in the number of virus contamination, which to date is already at 631,320, adding that the quota would be divided among international airline companies.
“Ang total na bilang ng papasok sa isang araw ay inilimita natin sa 1,500 kaya nagbigay na ng abiso ang Civil Aeronautics Board sa lahat ng airlines na itong ginagawa natin upang mapababa ang bilang. Magkakaroon ng quota, idi-distribute ang quota sa lahat ng airlines na may flight po basta limited number lang po ang papasok at ang limit na ‘yun ay 1,500 at ang mga papasok ay ililimita lang sa mga OFW na umuuwi,” he added.
Interestingly, among those who would not be given entry access are foreign nationals and Filipino overseas workers.
The University of the Philippines’ Octa Research Group earlier projected a daily average of 7,000 infections by the end of March.