Most of our mates in the provinces are wary about different requirements that they need to comply before they can fly back to Manila. I recently flown from Cebu to Manila via AirAsia and these are the requirements they asked from me.
So follow along with these steps and requirements and you’ll be hitting the sky without any glitch.
Requirements for Air Travel
Okay this is the very first question you should ask yourself. This one is not simple if you misunderstood where you belong. Do you consider yourself as an LSI (Locally Stranded Individual) or an APOR (Authorized Persons Outside Residence)? If you choose the former, then you are in big trouble.
We are seafarers and we are an APOR. I was considered an LSI by my baranggay in Cebu. Had I listen to them and follow them, I won’t be writing this now in Manila. I felt the urgency of this matter and did make quick decisions as Cebu City is on a brink of another lockdown which i can’t afford to be trapped in.
Do not let yourself be confused by unnecessary travel requirements. Focus on these APOR requirements and you’ll be flying in no time.
Here’s what you need at the airport:
- Medical Clearance Certificate (MCC) – I urge you not to get this at the municipal health office if you want to save time. I got this from a private doctor working in a DOH-accredited hospital in downtown Cebu City. It took me just 1 day to get this. One thing though, you need to get a rapid test done. I get a test a day before my flight. The doctor would not issue a medical clearance certificate for travel purposes without you a getting rapid test. It did cost me P3,700 for the test and the results came 4 hrs later. Few hours after that with a virtual consultation and interview, I secure the much needed medical clearance certificate.
- COE (Contract of Employment) – ask your crewing office to send you a new contract for your upcoming vessel assignment. This should be no problem as they are the one’s requesting your travel.
- Company ID – bring this whenever or wherever you go. This is a partial proof that you work onboard ships.
- Flight details – normal protocol.
What do checkpoints need?
- Appointment Confirmation – as the borders getting stricter, they would not allow an APOR just mindlessly going somewhere they like. It has to be an official travel for work. So present this letter to them. This letter contains the need for you to travel because your company requested your presence at their office. This is pretty much it.
- Company ID and COE – as mentioned above.
Arrival in Manila
It is much better if your company has arranged accommodation for you. However, if no arrangements has been made, then make the effort to check in into hotels or dormitories. Remember, always choose to be safe rather than the cost. You can recover the cost of your stay but not the hassle and inconvenience once you get the virus.
For your transportation, there are Grab and taxis at the airport. If you have a relative here in the Metro, ask a favor to accommodate you during your stay here.
Red Flags
Getting on an airplane amidst the pandemic is a serious challenge for the government mandated social distancing protocols. It is impossible. To better protect yourself, have a surgical mask (not cotton mask if possible).
Boarding the plane is much organized (having people socially distanced themselves prior sitting down) as compared to de-planing. But as long as you and your fellow passengers follow flight attendants’ advise and orders, then that flight won’t spread the virus even further.
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