These are only Guidelines for OFWs Travelling Back Home, hoping that this will be helpful.
Initial Note: Our departure date was October 23, 2021 via Philippine Airlines. The rules may change anytime, so please be updated if you are planning to travel. This post states our experiences.
Below are the step-by-step procedures we did.
ONE HEALTH PASS: Three days before our flight, we registered on the One Health Pass website. It requires details like personal (contact details), flight and vaccination details. After registration, we received an email confirming that we are registered. Make sure to review the details entered. Next, we clicked the icon “Apply Vaccine Pass” – more details are required here including the uploading of photos like vaccination certificate, working visa and passport copy.
24 HOURS BEFORE THE FLIGHT: 24 hours before the flight, we clicked the icon “e-HDC” as it was mentioned in the “Before Flying” section on the Philippine Airlines website. Also, we checked-in online to avoid a long queue at the airport.
DEPARTURE DAY (October 23, 2021): It is required to come four hours before the time of departure. However, we came earlier so we can weigh our check-in baggage and make sure we did not exceed the required weight. Philippine Airlines allows 2 check-in baggage weighing 23 kg each, and one carry-on bag weighing 7kg.
Although we checked-in our baggage online, we still decided to fall in line when the airline counter opened. We did not wait that long since we have already checked-in online.
During the check in, we presented our passport, air ticket and One Health Pass QR code.
After the confirmation of our online check in, we immediately made our way to the immigration. We also managed to eat, and buy some chocolates from Duty Free. After getting what we need, we proceeded to our gate and waited.
Finally, the gate opened and it’s boarding time!
As per my observation, the plane was full of passengers. Everybody was required to wear a face mask and face shield. Face shields were provided by the airline just in case you didn’t bring one with you. Wearing of face masks and face shield is mandatory until you reach the quarantine hotel. During the flight, the flight attendants handed over 3 forms to fill out – arrival card, Bureau of Customs form and OWWA form.The flight took almost 9 hours. It was tiring, but we’re almost home.
ARRIVAL DAY (October 24, 2021): Upon arrival, we presented our passport and arrival card to the immigration officer. Next, the officers from Bureau of Quarantine checked our One Health Pass QR code, passport and OWWA health declaration form. After we’re cleared, we went to our assigned carousel to get our baggages.
After getting our baggages, there were OWWA officers who were in-charged with returning OFWs. We were divided – Muslims and Christians, separated. We, Muslims, were instructed to ride the designated bus to bring us to the quarantine hotel. OWWA provided food for us, and some of us enjoyed their foods while waiting for the bus to depart.
Our designated hotel was in B Hotel in Quezon City.
The travel from the airport to the hotel took almost one hour. OWWA officers assisted us in our baggages. Upon arrival at the hotel, we were required to present our passport, arrival stamp from the immigration and One Health Pass QR code. The hotel also required us to fill out a short form before a room was assigned to us.
Part 2 of this post, Guidelines for OFWs Travelling Back Home, will be posted soon. The content will be about the quarantine days.
I posted a short video on YT if you’d like to check it out.
Thanks a bunch for spending your precious time with me!
