Cebu City Issues New Guidelines for Persons Traveling Into the City (EO105) via Seaports and Airports

Reasons for the EO

The “Whereas” in the beginning of the document outlines the reasoning behind the promulgation of the Executive Order by the Mayor. In summary, it is the following:

Cebu City is under MGCQ and thus inter-island travel for essential and non-essential purposes has been allowed. But even though the number of COVID-19 positive cases in Cebu City has decreased significantly in the last two months (September and October 2020) to only less than 200 active cases, the DOH has reported an increase to 292 active cases as of November 15, 2020.

The Cebu City Emergency Operations Center (EOC) has logged a total of 37 persons who have entered Cebu City who have tested positive for COVID-19 between September 2020 up to November 16, 2020. The 37 are composed of: 17 are Locally Stranded Individuals (LSI) and Authorized Persons Outside of Residence (APOR) from Metro Manila. There is no mention as to the composition of the rest.

Cebu City thus:

• Needs to implement proactive measures in the form of community monitoring and surveillance, among others to sustain the flattening curve.
• Come up with proper guidelines on the essential and non-essential travel into the City to ensure unhampered movement and maintain public safety and health standards versus COVID-19

Who does it apply to?

As per the signed EO 105 s 2020, this applies to all persons who intend to travel to Cebu City, except for returning or repatriated overseas Filipino workers and returning overseas Filipinos. Update as of Nov 17, 2020: Mayor Labella issued a new EO 105A amending the applicability and scope of the EO:

“These guidelines shall be applicable to all persons who intend to travel to Cebu City from other provinces outside Cebu Province via the airport and seaports. These guidelines shall not cover persons coming from other local government units within Cebu Province, as well as returning or repatriated Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and Returning Overseas Filipinos (ROFs).”

So, what do I need to present?

To the applicable persons, you now need to secure an Authority to Enter or ATE.

How do I get an ATE?

This will be issued upon submission or online upload of the following documents to the Cebu City Government Portal at www.mics.cebucity.gov.ph/inboundapplication

What are the Valid Reasons to Cebu City?

According to the EO, these are the only valid reasons of entry to the City:

Medical Reasons

1. Reverse Transcription – Polymerase Chain Reaction or RT-PCR Negative results (must be undertaken 3 days before the date of travel), and
2. Medical Certificate that will indicate any one of the following:
   1. indicating medical condition, or
   2. referral note from the hospital/doctor, or
   3. confirmed hospital admission, or
   4. laboratory request by the attending physician, and
3. Valid ID

Government Employees/Officials on Official Business (aka Government APORs)

1. Medical certificate that will indicate that he/she does not exhibit any of the symptoms of ILI/COVID-19 for the past 7 days before date of travel, and
2. Travel Order/Mission Order issued by the Head of Agency, and
3. Government Agency ID

Private APORs

1. RT-PCR Negative results (test must have been taken 3 days before the date of travel); and
2. Work/Travel Order from the Company indicating purpose of travel, and
3. Company ID, and
4. Travel Itinerary in Cebu City for the duration of stay in Cebu City for the first 10 days; whichever is shorter, and
5. Roundtrip ticket/travel details, and
6. Confirmed booking of accommodation in Cebu City

Visa/Embassy Appointments

1. RT-PCR Negative results (test must have been taken 3 days before date of travel), and
2. Copy of confirmed Visa/Embassy appointment, and
3. Valid ID/Passport, and
4. Roundtrip ticket/travel details

Locally Stranded Individuals (LSIs)

1. RT-PCR Negative results (tests must have been taken 3 days before date of travel), and
2. Letter of Coordination from the Barangay in Cebu City, and
3. Joint Task Force (JTF) COVID Shield Travel Authority (Medical Certificate, Barangay Clearance from LGU of Origin)

Cadaver Transfer

1. Death Certificate of Cadaver (Non-Covid Death), and
2. RT-PCR Negative results (test must have been taken 3 days from the date of the travel) for all the companions/escorts; and
3. JTF COVID Shield Travel Authority for all the companions/escorts

Non-Essential Travel (Leisure/Vacation and others)

1. RT-PCR Negative results (test must have been undertaken 3 days from the date of travel), and
2. Travel Itinerary in Cebu City for the duration of the stay or for the first 10 days; whichever is shorter, and
3. Joint Task Force (JTF) COVID Shield Travel Authority (Medical Certificate, Barangay Clearance from LGU of Origin), and
4. Confirmed booking of accommodation in Cebu City, and
5. Roundtrip ticket/travel details

After complying with documents, what next?

• Submit your documents online to the Cebu City Portal at www.mics.cebucity.gov.ph/inboundapplication to get an Authority to Enter or ATE.
• All persons need to report to the barangay of their destination (receiving barangay) for monitoring purposes by the Expanded Barangay Health Emergency Response Teams
• Private APORs, Non-essential travelers and LSIs must observe home/self quarantine within 10 days from arrival and shall be released only if a licensed medical doctor certifies his/her completion of the period. If any symptoms manifest within the period, he/she needs to take a swab (RT-PCR) test and further be quarantined.
• If test results are positive, the Cebu City Emergency Operations Center (EOC) will bring the person to the Designative Quarantine Facility of hospital, whichever is applicable.

What if I am in transit?

For persons traveling to Cebu City in transit, they shall not be allowed to go out of the seaports/airport and must present a subsequent ticket for their intended destination.

I am a Returning OFW / Returning Overseas Filipino Worker.

You must coordinate with OWWA or DFA prior to arrival in Cebu City and the Barangay of residence in Cebu City.

When does this EO take effect?

It takes effect on November 20, 2020.

The EO doesn’t say anything else. Please see below for the original images of the 4 paged EO 105 s 2020, followed by the amending EO 105-A s 2020. For latest updates please follow “Edgar Labella” or the “Cebu City Public Information Office” on facebook.