Filipinos working in Hong Kong and foreigners stranded in the Philippines, some for more than a month, heaved a sigh of relief after President Rodrigo Duterte made an about-turn and allowed them to fly out of the country anytime during a state of calamity.

Duterte ordered an "enhanced community quarantine" lockdown of its most populous Luzon island on Tuesday, where its bustling national capital region Metro Manila is already on lockdown.

Filipinos and tourists have been confused by Duterte's rapidly changing Covid-19 containment policies. He first announced a travel ban last month but lifted it for Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan and the mainland, but not including Hubei province, days later.

He later locked down Metro Manila, calling in the police and military to ensure all expect skeletal workforces and health workers remained at home.

Clark International Airport announced it would temporarily cease operations from tonight, leaving only the Manila international airport for outbound flights out of Luzon. Just before midnight Tuesday, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles together with Philippine National Police chief General Archie Gamboa, announced detailed guidance on the Luzon lockdown, which among other things, would allow "overseas Filipino workers, balikbayans [holidaying Filipinos] and foreign nationals living abroad . . . to leave at any time for the duration of the enhanced community quarantine" which lasts until April 12.

This comes as Duterte declared a nationwide "state of calamity" Tuesday as the Philippine Department of Health announced 15 more individuals were confirmed with Covid-19, taking the total to 202 as of noon yesterday, along with three more deaths, taking the toll to 17.

One family, who returned to Hong Kong yesterday, said the Ninoy Aquino International Airport was not as crowded as last month.

Police checkpoints were set up across the Luzon island for its over 48 million inhabitants, as panic buying of essential goods became intense.

One said: "The lockdown has only been three days but people are already been finding it hard, what more if it lasts a month?"

PNP chief Gamboa called on Luzon residents to obey the quarantine, hoping police would not need to arrest violators for "law disobedience and non-cooperation."

maryann.benitez@singtaonewscorp.com

Duterte eases travel restrictions for Philippines