Passengers arriving at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) on board international sweeper or repatriation flights or rerouted from Manila due to quarantine processing limitations are now required to register online.
In a statement over the weekend, the GMR Megawide Cebu Airport Corporation (GMCAC) reminded arriving international passengers to strictly adhere to the latest protocols upon check-in at their port of origin and upon arrival at MCIA.
Starting June 15, all international passengers arriving at MCIA will be required to register using the online MCIA passenger arrival registration form (PARF) at least two days prior their departure.
GMCAC said the form is accessible through https://mactancebuairport.com/covid-19-registration. Once the passenger completes the online registration, he or she will get a system’s generated travel registration or reference number.
Those passengers who will arrive before July 15 are directed to follow the manual process of filling out the forms upon check-in at their ports of origin.
After checking in, all international passengers travelling to MCIA must present valid passport, valid visa with proof of filiation or marriage, if applicable, proof of pre-booked Cebu hotel accommodation for returning non-OFW Filipinos (ROFs) or foreign nationals.
The airport’s coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) international arrival advisory page, provides for a list of the accredited hotels in Cebu.
The airport management said overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) need to coordinate with the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) for specific requirements and other guidelines for their arrival in Cebu.
Also, international passengers are required to present their travel reference number (TRN) upon completion of the online MCIA PARF and the health declaration form (HDF) available upon check-in at the port of origin which must be filled out prior to the arrival in Cebu.
As earlier announced, the MCIA requires all passengers to undergo a reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction test upon arrival at the airport and must have confirmed hotel accommodation in Cebu for a specific number of days where the arriving international passenger can stay while waiting for their test result.
Each swab test for returning non-OFW Filipinos and foreign nationals is pegged at PHP4,900 to be shouldered by the passenger while the cost of test for land-based OFWs and seafarers is PHP4,400 to be shouldered by the OWWA.
Upon arrival, international passengers need to present their TRN at the validation counter and claim their barcode for identification and swab testing before they are allowed to proceed to thermal scanning by the Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ) and to submit their HDF.
After thermal scanning and submission of health form, the passengers will proceed to the Immigration booth for clearance and proceed to the OWWA counter for OFWs, to the cashier for swab test and to other government agencies counters at the Arrival Reclaim Hall.
The passengers will proceed to the waiting area and submit their respective barcode to the health personnel for the swab test. Once the test is completed, the passengers will be instructed to wear the orange band or sticker at the right wrist to indicate completion.
Once the test procedures are accomplished, the passengers will claim their baggage at the assigned reclaim belt and proceed to the waiting area to wait for a representative from the respective agencies for customs clearance.
The accredited hotel liaison officers will fetch ROFs and foreign nationals. After customs clearance is issued, they need to go to their designated vehicle with their respective agency representative for hotel drop-off and wait for the results of their PCR swab test from the BOQ to be released after 24 to 48 hours.
If the RT-PCR swab test result is negative, the passenger will receive an email from the BOQ.
The LGU may bring the passenger to their residence in Cebu or they may be allowed to go home through their private vehicle.
If the passenger is not based in Cebu, they may take their onward flight.
If the RT-PCR swab test result is positive, BOQ will get in touch with the passenger for specific instructions and compliance with mandated health, safety and treatment protocols of the bureau and Department of Health. (PNA)
