Push Admin

Transport chief orders aviation authority to 'seriously consider' reopening airports in GCQ areas

Article (news)

Angela Coloma, ABS-CBN News

MANILA - The country&#x27;s transportation chief on Saturday ordered airport authorities to &quot;seriously consider&quot; reopening airports in areas under general community quarantine (GCQ) in a bid to jumpstart domestic tourism amid the coronavirus crisis.This as several parts of the country have been placed in loosened lockdown measures starting Friday. The Department of Tourism earlier said domestic tourism may be the key to reviving the industry hit hard by the crisis that had prompted travel restrictions across the globe.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/05/01/20/family-road-trips-domestic-travel-may-be-key-to-reviving-ph-tourism-dot">READ:Family road trips, domestic travel may be key to reviving PH tourism: DOT</a></li></ul>“The reopening of airports in GCQ areas to commercial aviation will gradually jump start airline operations now hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. This will plant the seeds for domestic tourism. This should seriously be considered,” Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said in a statement. The suggestion was discussed during a teleconference with airport authorities last April 30. Airlines have already been &quot;capable of mounting inter-island flights&quot; to and from areas under general community quarantine, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines Director General Jim Sydiongco said. “Some airlines are readily capable of mounting inter-island flights to serve communities from one GCQ area to another GCQ area using the inter Visayas and/or Inter Mindanao air routes,” Sydiongco said, citing a &quot;Hub and Spoke&quot; model where carriers can use regional airports as an alternative airport hub. The Luzon-wide lockdown ended on April 30, while the enhanced community quarantine, which bars public transport, remained enforced in several areas, including Metro Manila, Central Luzon, Cebu province and Davao City, where key international airports are located.The ECQ will remain enforced until at least May 15. The rest of the country has shifted to the general quarantine, so called the &quot;new normal&quot; starting May 1. &quot;We want to operationalize this approach before the end of next week, but of course without compromising health and safety protocols set by the IATF (Inter Agency Task Force) and the Department of Health. Pag-iisipan namin kung paano ito maisasagawa ng maayos at mabilis (We will think about how to implement this properly and fast),&quot; Tugade said.<div>NEW NORMAL IN METRO MANILA </div>The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has also laid the groundwork for when Metro Manila implements the new normal should authorities choose to lift the enhanced community quarantine by May 16, based on guidelines issued by the agency on its Facebook page, Friday evening. <ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/05/01/20/support-for-bikes-mandatory-face-masks-and-a-ban-on-angkas-dotr-lays-down-new-normal">Support for bikes, mandatory face masks and a ban on Angkas: DOTr lays down &#x27;new normal&#x27;</a></li></ul>Physical distancing will be implemented in all forms of transport, which will all operate at a limited capacity under the general community quarantine. Train stations will have to place markings and signages for waiting and traversing passengers and there should be a meter-wide gap in between them.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/04/30/20/railways-ready-to-resume-operations-but-at-reduced-capacity-construction-continues-pnr">Railways ready to resume operations but at reduced capacity, construction continues: PNR</a></li></ul>Trains can only operate at a &quot;10 to 13-percent capacity,&quot; according to the DOTr. Passengers are also required to wear face masks, while the following are barred from riding trains: 1) those with a temperature above 37.8 degrees Celsius 2) pregnant women 3) infants 4) senior citizens Tricycles can only take in one passenger, while taxis and transport network vehicle services can take just up to three. Plastic barriers will also be placed in between drivers and passengers for his safety. Passengers will not be allowed to stand up while riding buses and plastic barriers. DOTr has also said before that motorcycle taxis will be barred from taking in passengers. <div>-- With a report from Jekki Pascual, ABS-CBN News</div>

MANILA - The country's transportation chief on Saturday ordered airport authorities to "seriously consider" reopening airports in areas under general community quarantine (GCQ) in a bid to jumpstart domestic tourism amid the coronavirus crisis.

MANILA - The country's transportation chief on Saturday ordered airport authorities to "seriously consider" reopening airports in areas under general community quarantine (GCQ) in a bid to jumpstart domestic tourism amid the coronavirus crisis.

Transport chief orders aviation authority to 'seriously consider' reopening airports in GCQ areas

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Traffic

Manila

Horoscope

News

Transport chief orders aviation authority to 'seriously consider' reopening airports in GCQ areas

Angela Coloma,

ABS-CBN News

Published May 02, 2020 12:38 PM PHT

|

Updated May 02, 2020 01:17 PM PHT

Read More:

reopening airports GCQ

airports COVID-19 crisis Philippines

coronavirus

COVID-19

coronavirus Philippines update

COVID

coronavirus disease Philippines

COVID-19 Philippines update

transport

coronavirus transport Philippines

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.