CIVIL AERONAUTIC BOARD (CAB) executive director Carmelo Arcilla said Tuesday the airlines "will readily give" passenger information needed by the Department of Health (DOH) to trace those on the same flights as the two individuals who tested positive for the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV).
This was his response to Health Secretary Francisco Duque III's statement during the Senate hearing on the 2019-nCoV that the DOH was having a difficult time tracing the passengers, as the airlines did not give them the passengers' contact details.
"I think the airlines will readily give this information, especially during an event like this," Arcilla said.
The DOH has been looking for passengers onboard Cebu Pacific (CEB) flights 5J 241 Hong Kong - Cebu, and DG 6519 Cebu - Dumaguete; and Philippine Airlines (PAL) flight PR 2542 Dumaguete - Manila.
Duque said only 17 percent of the 331 passengers had been contacted as of Tuesday. The airlines, he said, provided them with the passenger list but with no contact details due to the Data Privacy Act.
PAL spokesperson Cielo Villaluna told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) that flight PR 2542 carried 132 passengers.
"We have provided passenger manifest to the DOH. On top of that, PAL also reached out to the passengers," she said.
Villaluna said PAL provided the DOH with the "full unredacted manifest, which includes the contact details of passengers on the flight."
On the other hand, CEB has been tracing passengers of the two flights. Those who were on those flights have been requested to contact CEB at 632 87020886 from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
They were also advised to seek medical attention if they manifest flu-like symptoms, such as cough, colds, and fever.
"Per the request of both the DOH and BOQ (Bureau of Quarantine), CEB has already provided a list of the passengers aboard both flights. There is no impediment whatsoever for CEB to provide any and all information that the DOH and BOQ would need from us for their purposes," CEB spokesperson Charo Lagamon said in a statement.
Lagamon added that the airline has reached out to the passengers of both flights, and also updated the DOH and BOQ about individuals the CEB was able to contact.
Meanwhile, Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) general manager Ed Monreal said there is no reason for airlines to withhold the needed passenger details.
As a former airline staff, Monreal said under the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) protocol, those seated four rows in the front, back, and sides of a patient or confirmed virus carrier, must be contacted.
"You don't have to call out all the passengers. The aircraft is also equipped with HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air system) filters," Monreal said.
The two Chinese nationals who tested positive of the n-CoV arrived in the country last January 21. (By Ma. Cristina Arayata)
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