PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte yesterday asked the Manila International Airport Authority to place additional mono and gang chairs at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) to help ease Locally Stranded Individuals’ (LSI) miserable situation at passenger terminals while waiting for their flights.

The Philippine Consulate in Hong Kong is coordinating with the Department of Foreign Affairs to arrange flights for the returning workers.

"Bunsod nga nitong challenges brought about by COVID-19, partikular sa mga airlines, it is now necessary for us para i-review, i-review at tignan nang maigi ang entire business ng Cebu Pacific, and resources niya and really transform the airline para i-meet 'yung future market conditions," she said .

CAAP spokesman Eric Apolonio yesterday said the 18 airports in the country are Romblon Airport, Naga Airport, Manila Internatiional Airport, Clark International Airport, Languindingan Airport, Dipolog Airport, Pagadian Airport, Masbate Airport, Mactan-Cebu Internaional Airport, Cotobato Airport, Zamboanga Airport, Davao International Airport, General Santos Airport, Puerto Princesa International Airport, Tacloban Airport, Legaspi Airport, Catarman Airport and Ozamiz Airport.

CAAP spokesman Eric Apolonio yesterday confirmed that the 25 airports allowed to operate are Romblon Airport, Naga Airport, Manila International Airport, Clark International Airport, Cauayan Airport, Palanan Airport, Laguindingan Airport, Dipolog Airport, Pagadian Airport, Jolo Airport, Borongan Airport, Antique Airport, Masbate Airport, Mactan-Cebu International Airport, Cotobato Airport, Zamboanga Airport, Davao International Airport, General Santos Airport, Puerto Princesa International Airport, Tacloban Aireport, Legaspi Airport, Ormoc Airport Catbalogan Airport, San Jose Airport and Catarman Airport.

According to the office of Recruitment and Migration Consultant Manny Geslani, the latest reported fatality was Maria  Jocson, 23, a newly hired waitress. She died on June 10 on  the Harmony of Seas, A Royal Caribbean  Lines cruise ship which was anchored off Barbados, Bahamas while in the process of repatriating thousands of Filipinos to the country.

MORE cars and public utility vehicles yesterday carrying passengers without confirmed domestic flights were prevented entry at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) terminal 3.

THE Bureau of Customs frontliners at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) are considered "silent heroes" because of the high risk they face  24/7 working and handling PPEs and medical supplies shipments since the start of the pandemic with some 45 of their personnel already under home quarantine for COVID-19.

BI Commissioner Jaime Morente expressed his disappointment at the resurgence of the fake news that is being used by anti-government bodies for political propaganda. "This has already been addressed before, but apparently some people who wish to put malice in regular activities keep on reviving this issue, hence the need to send reminders to stop the spread of misinformation," said the BI Chief.

THE Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) yesterday released an advisory to airlines concerned dated May 30 informing them that the IATF has yet to approve the routes for domestic air services proposed by airlines for the resumption of domestic operations in the first week of June, 2020.

THE Bureau of Customs (BOC), Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the Inter-Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group (IADITG) seized more than 500 grams of suspected Methamphetamine Hydrochloride or better known as shabu in two separate parcels at the LBC warehouse inside the general aviation area, Domestic Rd. Pasay City before the lockdown.

“Part of our SOP is to ensure that the health of our officers be checked for Covid-2019 if they encountered a COVID-positive patient,” he said.  “We have instituted procedures for that, and have a medical team on standby to conduct triage and ensure that those who need testing are able to undergo it,” he said.

FLAG carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) has continued to operate a number of international flights in response to urgent public need and the government's call for an air service lifeline to ferry out stranded foreign nationals.  

IMMIGRATION Commissioner Jaime Morente yesterday called on the public to stop spreading fake news amidst the ongoing COVID-2019 pandemic.

According to Morente, following the directive of President Rodrigo Duterte and as recommended by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Disease (IATF-EID), the Bureau of Immigration will implement additional travel restrictions for arriving passengers from Iran and Italy by 12 midnight of March 16.