The Department of Tourism (DOT) welcomes the approval by the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) of its request to undertake necessary measures to charter and fund sweeper flights for qualified stranded local tourists from other regions to the National Capital Region.
“This is a positive development that will complement our on-ongoing efforts in the Department to assist qualified stranded local tourists, which include the provision of one-time financial assistance,” Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat stated.
A stranded local tourist may be eligible for the assistance if registered with the DOT Regional Office and has a confirmed return land, air, or sea ticket to their home province, city or municipality but was cancelled due to the implementation of the community quarantine.
As of 28 April 2020, the DOT Regional Offices nationwide have listed about 2,392 remaining domestic tourists. The DOT assures the public that it will do everything within its mandate to bring qualified stranded local tourists home as it works on mounting sweeper flights.
The DOT will announce the dates of the departure schedules of these sweeper flights. Stranded local tourists are encouraged to communicate with the nearest DOT Regional Office.
