OFW travel procedure during COVID-19 pandemic

Only a month left until Christmas. Filipinos, known for being family-oriented, will do everything they can to go home and spend the holidays with their loved ones. But with the pandemic still ongoing, traveling is no easy task.

Flights to Manila have recently been canceled, and it was only last week that the airline I flew with came up with a solution. That is to reroute their flights to Davao, Cebu, and Subic. I’m writing this from my hotel room on my third day of quarantine in Cebu to share what it’s like to travel right now.

On the fifth day, we will be tested again. Once the results are out and negative, we’ll finally be allowed to fly to Manila.

A few days before leaving Bahrain, I registered on the OASIS and One Health Pass websites. I also downloaded the contact-tracing app Traze (though I haven’t used it so far). I had my PCR test taken two nights before my flight and packed my things the night before, just in case the flight was canceled, even on the day itself, which has happened to other passengers.

Some Filipinos I met weren’t as fortunate. Their flight was canceled while they were already at Dubai Airport waiting for their connecting flight. Thankfully, mine wasn’t canceled, just rerouted to Cebu. I let out a big sigh of relief when the Dubai Airport agent finally handed me my boarding pass to Cebu.

Ready to fly (outside the new Bahrain International Airport)

So, I landed in Cebu and had to register again. This time on the Mactan-Cebu International Airport website. It was easy enough, but still another long registration process that required a stable internet connection. Thankfully, the airport’s Wi-Fi was fast and reliable.

During the flight from Dubai to Cebu, after the meal was served, the crew handed out five different forms to fill in. I still have two of them with me. They might be required when checking out of the quarantine hotel, although I’m not entirely sure.

Once we disembarked, the Health Declaration Forms were collected, and then came a series of queues:

1. First queue: Passengers who were unvaccinated, partially vaccinated, or had received their second dose less than 14 days ago were instructed to skip the arrival briefing. Only fully vaccinated passengers attended the briefing on what to do next.

2. Second queue: Vaccination certificates were checked.

3. Third queue: At the OWWA desk, we registered for the day’s swab test.

4. Fourth queue: Underwent the swab test.

5. Fifth queue: Proceeded to immigration for passport stamping and submission of the Arrival Form.

Time to Get My Baggage

In the pre-pandemic days, the baggage claim area was where we usually spent the most time, just standing there, waiting for our luggage to appear on the carousel. This time, though, it was the opposite. By the time we got there, more than two hours after landing, all the bags had already been taken off the carousel and placed on the floor.

Passing through Customs was quick since I had nothing to declare. After submitting my Customs Declaration Form, we were directed to queue again. This time, for the quarantine hotel assignment.

Once we were given our hotel stubs, we were asked to sit down and wait until it was time to exit the airport. Outside, we waited for about 30 minutes for the bus (it was hot), and the ride to the hotel took around 45 minutes.

Upon arrival at the hotel, we were asked to register online. Only two people were allowed inside at a time to check in. I was the third in line to register but the first one allowed to go up to the room.

By the time I got in, I was already drained. And as if that wasn’t enough, my allergy cough started acting up, but that’s a whole other story.

TRAVEL PROCEDURE for OFWs 

Before the flight: 

1. Register on OASIS website - https://oasis.owwa.gov.ph/ (OFW Assistance Information System). This is OWWA’s COVID-19 pandemic assistance for PCR testing, quarantine, and transportation. 

2. Register on Bureau of Quarantine’s One Health Pass website - https://www.onehealthpass.com.ph/e-HDC for Manila, Clark, Davao, Laoag, and Subic as early as 24 hours before departure. Cebu-bound, register on https://mactancebuairport.com/covid-19-registration. Within 5 days before departure. 

3. Download the Traze Mobile Application to generate and scan their QR code when entering in, boarding from, and upon arriving at all Philippine Airports. 

4. PCR Test taken within 72 hours before departure. 

During the flight: 

1. Wear a mask. And as soon as you board the plane, wear a face shield. Mask and face shield are to be worn all throughout the flight. 

2. Fill in: Customs Declaration Form, Health Declaration Form, Arrival Form, OWWA Project Care Slip, and One-Stop-Shop MROF Undertaking Form. 

Arrival: 

1. Submit the Health Declaration Form 

2. Briefing 

3. Checking of Vaccination Certificate 

4. Swab test registration 

5. Swab test 

6. Immigration 

7. Hotel assignment and transportation