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Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP)-operated airports on heightened alert over increase in volume of air passengers during the holidays
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Passengers must present valid health forms and other requirements, and download the contact tracing application Traze before arrival at the airport
Airports operated by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) are now on heightened alert in anticipation of the expected increase in the volume of air passengers during the Christmas and New Year season.
This is part of CAAP’s “Oplan Biyaheng Ayos: Implementation of Heightened Alert Status during the Pasko 2020,” which is running from December 16, 2020 to January 5, 2021.
Under the oplan, all 12 area centers handling CAAP airports accepting commercial flights are observing added security measures and additional deployment of service and security personnel to ensure safe, reliable, and convenient airport operations as returning overseas Filipinos (ROFs), civilians, and tourists travel for the holiday season.
CAAP said concerned government agencies operating at the airports, including the Office of Transportation Security and the Philippine National Police Aviation Security Group, will also deploy personnel in areas of concern to ensure smooth passenger flow while strictly implementing new normal minimum health protocols.
These protocols include mandatory wearing of face mask and face shield, social distancing, temperature checks, provision of foot baths, hand sanitizing stations, and routine disinfection and inspection of airport facilities.
With new protocols and requirements brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, CAAP is urging passengers to be ready to present valid health forms and local government unit (LGU) requirements to avoid inconvenience upon entering the airport passenger terminal.
Passengers are also reminded to download contact tracing application Traze ahead of their arrival at the airport for faster scanning of QR (quick response) codes in entry/exit points and designated areas. Since late November, passengers in all airports in the Philippines have been required to use the contact tracing application.
Additionally, travelers are reminded not to bring prohibited items into the airport and to stow all belongings in one’s carry-on baggage for faster processing at screening checkpoints.
As of December 21, there are 43 airports in the country whose LGUs have issued orders categorically supporting the resumption of commercial airport operations in their areas of jurisdiction.
Some airports, however, while allowing commercial flights to resume, are subject to different documentary and passenger LGU restrictions.
Only six of CAAP-operated airports are still not allowing commercial flights and these are the airports of Camiguin, Puerto Princesa, Roxas, Tuguegarao, San Vicente, and Sanga-Sanga.
