The Philippine government on Tuesday, March 16, said it would enforce a cap on foreign arrivals at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

In an advisory on Tuesday, the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) announced the reduced international inbound passenger capacity at the country’s main gateway.

“Please be advised that the international inbound arrivals at [NAIA] shall be limited to a maximum of 1,500 passengers per day,” the advisory read.

The cap will be enforced beginning Thursday, March 18, at 8 am. It will be lifted on April 19 at 8 am.

Flag carrier Philippine Airlines said on Tuesday that it will continue to operate its full international schedule on Thursday, but it will be announcing flight cancellations in the coming days.

AirAsia Philippines currently does not have international flights. Its spokesperson Steve Dailisan said the carrier will “continue to partner with [the] Overseas Workers Welfare Administration and Department of Foreign Affairs for the various repatriation efforts of Filipinos stranded abroad.”

The CAB said airlines are “further advised to comply with the directives of [the] Bureau of Immigration (BI) on the kind of essential inbound travelers that will be allowed entry into the Philippines.”

The BI has yet to issue new guidelines on persons allowed to enter the Phillippines, as COVID-19 cases continue to rise.

On Monday, March 15, the Philippines logged its 4th biggest single-day tally since the pandemic began, with 5,404 new cases. The spike in cases comes following the detection of a new COVID-19 variant – which is possibly more transmissible – called P3.

Metro Manila mayors reimposed a curfew and prohibited minors from going outdoors. A liquor ban is also in place in some areas. – Rappler.com