Some airlines pushed through with their flights going to Caticlan where most of the passengers aboard were heading to the top tourist destination Boracay on March 22.
This falls on the first day of the implementation of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Disease (IATF-EID) Resolution 104 which suspends leisure travel for those going in and out of the National Capital Region (NCR) Plus due to the rising cases of COVID-19.
Air Asia explained that their first flight proceeded yesterday but passengers were asked to sign a waiver.
“Yung first flight natin, nakatuloy talaga siya ng Boracay kahapon because we have to accommodate our guests. Because mayroon sila sa ating ipinakitang QR Code meaning ‘yung local government ay pinahintulutan ‘yung kanilang paglipad. (Our first flight really pushed through going to Boracay yesterday because we have to accommodate our guests. Because they showed a QR Code, meaning the local government allowed them to fly). Pero (But) for us to be compliant also with regulations or requirements set by the IATF Resolution 104, we asked our passengers to sign a waiver. Meaning, in the event na di sila tatanggapin dito sa isla, kinakailangan they have the option to return to Manila (Meaning, in the event that they will not be accepted in the island, they need to have the option to return to Manila),” explained Steve Dailisan, Air Asia’s spokesperson.
Meanwhile, Philippine Airlines confirmed they had to cancel the flights for that day after they received the memorandum from the Civil Aeronautics Board on Sunday night. But passengers were already at the airport.
Cielo Villaluna of PAL said, ”Maraming nagulat na pasahero sapagkat ‘yung abiso ng Civil Aeronautics Board ay nangyari (Many of the passengers were surprised since the advice of the Civil Aeronautics Board happened) the night before the implementation so we were expecting of course passengers to show up on the category that was restricted, the leisure travelers. So it was well explained to them at the check-in counter. So in the afternoon the flight to Caticlan, we only carried essential travelers”.
While some flights pushed through, over 100 passengers of Cebu Pacific were deplaned yesterday afternoon.
One of the passengers was Aljon Valdenibro who bewailed, “Kung hawak niyo na talaga ‘yung memo na yan, bakit nakalipad yung two other flights? Kailangan ng permission ng dalawang flight na iyon, all other flights going to Caticlan (went) without the permission of your office [Civil Aeronautics Board]. Bakit yung sa amin hindi niyo pinayagan? (If the memo was really on hand, why were the two flights able to push through? Those two flights required permission, all other flights going to Caticlan (went) without the permission of your office [Civil Aeronautics Board]. Why did you disallow ours?”
Cebu Pacific clarified it was the local government unit (LGU) that gave the consent to accept the leisure travelers.
“May iba doon talagang hindi natin natanggap para lumipad dahil bawal na nga ang non-essential travel while there are some na nakapaglipad pa dahil ang ating local government naman ay tumatanggap pa during that time. Kaya may iba na they were able to fly during the first day (We no longer accepted some of them to fly since non-essential travel is are not allowed while there are some who flew since our local government were still accepting at that time. That’s why some people were able to fly during the first day),” spokesperson Michelle Lim elucidated.
PTV is still waiting for the statement of the Aklan LGU on welcoming leisure travelers despite the first day of the implementation of Resolution 104.
Affected passengers are advised to rebook or refund their flights. They may inquire about other options from their respective airlines.– Karen Villanda
