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Lack of quarantine facilities forces Cebu to limit international arrivals

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ABS-CBN News

<figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=1684732" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div><p><strong>(UPDATE)</strong> The Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) on Friday said it will limit the number of arriving international passengers to 300 due to lack of quarantine facilities.<br/> <br/>“Sa succeeding days, ang ginawa natin, nag pa issue tayo ng advisory sa Civil Aeronautics Board. Ili-limit natin &#x27;yung capacity to 300 per day. Kung dalawa &#x27;yung flights for that day hati sila, 150 each,” MCIA Officer in Charge Glenn Napuli told ABS-CBN&#x27;s TeleRadyo. </p><p>MCIA canceled international flights from May 14 to 15 as the city’s 2,500 capacity quarantine facilities for returning overseas Filipinos are full.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/05/13/21/mactan-cebu-international-airport-closed-returning-ofws-quarantine-facilities-full">Mactan-Cebu International airport closed to returning OFWs from May 14-May 15</a></li></ul><p>Napuli said the problem started after government imposed a 10-day minimum quarantine period for returning Filipinos and overseas Filipino workers. </p><p>The inter-Agency Task Force said inbound travelers should stay for 10 days at a quarantine facility, and complete a 4-day home quarantine in their destination. All arriving passengers will also undergo RT-PCR test on the 7th day upon arrival.</p><p>“With that, napupuno kami. As of today, wala na talagang rooms na available. Napilitan kami to cancel mga flights,” said Napuli.</p><p>Around 900 passengers are affected by the 2-day flight cancellation. Napuli said 200 passengers of Eva Air and about 350 onboard Qatar Airways are affected by the flight cancellation on Friday. </p><p>“Bukas naman isa lang yung flight, Qatar Airways which is 350 passengers,” he said.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/05/07/21/iatf-oks-revised-protocol-inbound-travelers-to-take-covid-19-test-7-days-after-arrival-doh">IATF OKs 7th day testing, shorter facility quarantine for inbound travelers</a></li></ul><p>Napuli said the 2-day flight cancellation would serve as their breathing space as they wait for the quarantine period of other passengers to end. </p><p>He clarified that only international flights are affected and that operations of local flights continue.</p><p>He said they were initially looking at diverting flights but other areas could not accommodate international passengers as their hotels are occupied too.</p><p>The 300-person cap on arrivals of returning Filipinos and OFWs will be implemented until May 31.</p><p>Napuli assured the public that they will immediately adjust once there’s a change in policy.</p><p>“Sa lahat ng mga OFWs, returning at saka &#x27;yung mga gustong pumunta ng Pilipinas, pasensiya na talaga. Last minute namin ginawa ang desisyon na &#x27;yun to cancel the flights kasi wala na talagang ibang option. &#x27;Yung mga bagong hotels binubuksan na natin, sagad na talaga. Sorry talaga in behalf of MCIA, in behalf of government of Cebu,” he said.</p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=1684731" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div>

<p>The Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) on Friday said it will limit the number of arriving international passengers to 300 due to lack of quarantine facilities.</p>

The Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) on Friday said it will limit the number of arriving international passengers to 300 due to lack of quarantine facilities.