General Info

[South By Sw 3]

I actually forgot my password once, and I just decided to create a new account with my pocket wifi number this time (I agree they will not send you a code on your number so you don't need to worry about that), and I used my same email address and I had not problem creating a new account...SNIP

All great info. Thanks Steve!

South by SW.

[Bushes]

OK. To all you storm troopers itching to storm my little sand pit as if it was the Normandy Beach, please, do bring germs.

Remember, cleanliness is next to godliness.

A refresher video tutorial on cleaning.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMQUgEwy58M

From the article:

[Breadman]

So is the Tourist visa 9 (a) back in play again? I read that you can change a 30 day visa on arrival into a 9 (a) visa at immigration and I would hope this would still be true. My plan is to stick it out in Thailand until the Philippines gets their act together and keep extending my visa here since both of my flights to Cambodia got canceled (different airlines).

[Steve Nash]

Probably not because I uploaded a non-PH vax card.

Just to respond to this, you don't need to upload a PH vax card.

As long you have an official Vaccine certificate from your country that has a bar code is fine.

I used my Canadian Vaccine certificate to travel between provinces, to enter restaurants, to enter nightclubs and sports bars, to check-in in condos sometimes they asked, and they all accept it. Only in malls a couple of times they didn't accepted, so I just had to sign my name, address and phone number in a form and they let me in. But that was a couple of times out of more than a dozen of times that I showed them.

BTW not all malls will ask you for vaccine certificate, the same with restaurants and sports bars. I guess it depends of the restrictions of their alert level. Negros Occidental where I been staying the most is very strict compared to other provinces.

[Steve Nash]

The S-PaSS site was not loading at first, but now I'm registered with a friend's local phone number. They use it as your user ID to sign in to the site, so you can't change it. You'd have create a new account. The phone number doesn't appear to matter since S-Pass doesn't send updates or confirmation codes to the phone number.

I actually forgot my password once, and I just decided to create a new account with my pocket wifi number this time (I agree they will not send you a code on your number so you don't need to worry about that), and I used my same email address and I had not problem creating a new account.

Cebu City and Mandaue look like the only restricted cities on Cebu. Consolacion, Cordova, Talisay City and Lapu-Lapu City (Opon?) are Unrestricted. So in theory, MNL to Lapu-Lapu wouldn't require an S-Pass at all. Going to Talisay City would require a Pass Through Permit for Cebu City, but in either case once you were on the ground you can just move around with your One Health Pass. Am I missing something? If I tell them at the airport that I'm staying at the Mactan District Budgetel, will they want me to show a reservation or something? If I decide the Budgetel doesn't have enough marble in the lobby and I check out to go across the channel to the Radisson Blu I should get a S-Pass. But I'm guessing no one would know or care. Does anyone actually scan the S-Pass QR at the airport for a domestic flight or do they just look at it?

Try going to Negros Occidental, they are the most restricted province in Philippines I think, I had to take a 72 hours RT-PCR test back on January when I went back from Cebu City to Negros Occidental, both were in Alert level 3 (they are both still are).

Last weekend when I came back from Manila (Alert Level 2) to Negros Occ. (Alert Level 3) I had to do only an Antigen Rapid Test (cost only 600 php). People in Negros Occ. Complained of too expensive to get a RT-PCR test so they changed to Antigen. Once Negros Occ. Change it back to Alert Level 2 (more likely February 15), then I won't need any COVID test like back on December.

About your question, my understanding is that now you are not required to do a hotel quarantine, so you only need to do a 7 days self monitor quarantine which it means nothing, I had to do the same (after the mandatory hotel quarantine) and I was able to do whatever I wanted, I even put that my quarantine was supposed to be in another province and I ended up staying in Manila. Just don't get arrested or have problem with the police during those 7 days or whatever time you need to do self monitor quarantine.

After that you are completely free and you don't to use the Health pass anymore, only S-Pass when travelling between provinces.

So yeah, in my opinion make sure you have a hotel in Lapu Lapu, because in the airport they might check your booking, but once you are in the hotel you can move around, you don't need to worry about anybody finding out. Like I said just don't get in trouble during the self monitoring days. And don't worry about crossing from Lapu Lapu to Cebu City nobody will check you if you don't get in trouble with the police. Just don't go from the airport to Cebu City, go to your hotel in Lapu Lapu first and after that you can take another taxi and go to Cebu City. Because they might ask you to take a special taxi (which they can contact the taxi and find out if you went to your hotel in Lapu Lapu, similar to when I had to do hotel quarantine).

[Mdemde]

(NB. I posted this earlier today on the Cebu forum.)

According to this news report published yesterday (link below), starting March 1st, unvaxxed foreign tourists will be allowed into the Philippines via Mactan-Cebu International airport (but no mention of them being allowed into other International airports in the Philippines).

All the news reports that I have read over the last month or so have all clearly stated that unvaxxed tourists will not be allowed into the country. Is the Mactan-Cebu International airport a backdoor way for unvaxxed tourists to enter the country?! My guess is that from March 1st the restrictions on entry for unvaxxed foreign tourists will be lifted for the whole of the Philippines.

<START.

ARVIE N. VELOSO. February 09,2022.

FROM Thursday, Feb. 10,2022, Cebu province will accept foreign travelers, whether from non-visa-required or visa-required countries, as approved under Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases Resolution 160-be issued last week.

And from March, it will also admit unvaccinated foreign nationals, according to Executive Order (EO) 3, series of 2022 issued by Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia on Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2022.

This is a way to gradually revive the tourism industry in the country and the fortunes of the local government units which have been severely affected by the ongoing coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic.

Garcia's EO 3 contains the rules to be followed by those who wish to visit and explore Cebu.

For foreigners from non-visa-required countries who are fully vaccinated against Covid-19, they need to present a vaccination card or proof of vaccination against Covid-19 permitted by the IATF, and a negative RT-PCR (reverse transcriptionpolymerase chain reaction) test taken within 48 hours prior to the date and time of departure from the country of origin or first port of embarkation in a continuous travel to the Philippines, provided they did not leave the airport premises or were not admitted into another country during layovers.

Proof of vaccination must be presented prior to departure from the country of origin, as well as on arrival in Cebu.

They must also have "valid tickets for their return journey to the port of origin or next port of destination not later than 30 days from date of arrival in the Philippines" and travel insurance for Covid-19 treatment costs for a coverage of at least US $35,000 for the duration of their stay in the country.

They will not undergo facility-based quarantine in Cebu but will just self-monitor for symptoms for seven days.

Nationals from 157 countries may be admitted into the Philippines without a visa for an initial stay of 30 days, according to the Bureau of Immigration.

These countries include Canada, Japan, Singapore, USA, New Zealand, Malaysia and South Korea.

Visa required.

For vaccinated foreign nationals from visa-required countries, they need to present the Entry Exemption Document issued under IATF regulations, in addition to presenting proof of vaccination, a negative RT-PCR test taken within 48 hours prior to the date and time of departure from the country of origin or first port of embarkation in a continuous travel to the Philippines.

They also will not undergo facility-based quarantine but will self-monitor for symptoms for seven days.

If they experience symptoms of Covid-19, tourists are instructed to inform the management of the hotel or resort in which they are billeted so that the local government unit (LGU) may also be informed.

At that point, the foreigner must be subjected to a rapid antigen test or an RT-PCR test.

If he tests positive in the Covid test, he must isolate and strictly follow health and quarantine protocols.

If it is necessary to take the foreigner to an isolation facility or hospital, the LGU is tasked to coordinate with the Department of Health for the patient's referral.

Unvaccinated

Starting March 1, unvaccinated and partially vaccinated, or foreign nationals whose vaccination status cannot be independently determined can enter the Cebu airport only if they present a negative RT-PCR test taken within 48 hours before departing from their country of origin.

Such passengers will be subjected to a swab test on arrival.

They are also required to observe quarantine in a facility until the release of the result of their second RT-PCR test taken on the fifth day of their quarantine.

Such individuals are encouraged to get vaccinated against Covid-19 during their stay in Cebu.

For this purpose, the Department of Health Central Visayas (DOH 7) will make available the single-dose Janssen (Johnson and Johnson) vaccine for unvaccinated foreign nationals. It is free and there is no charge for getting vaccinated.

The Cebu Provincial Government first met with consul generals of Japan, Korea and China, officials of the Department of Tourism, tour operators, and representatives of the DOH 7, and the Mactan-Cebu International Airport prior to the issuance of EO 3, to come up with a unified approach to the entry of tourists to Cebu Province.

<END.

https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1...eign-travelers

[Albert9989]

This might be of interest to some planning travel here: https://philippineslifestyle.com/iat...ign-nationals/.

It appears that the borders are open and actually trying to attract foreigners..

And I can see now some prices from Paris to Manila below 1000 L€, up to 600€ with Turkish and long flights. But also, maybe, a sign that things are coming back.

[GoodEnough]

This might be of interest to some planning travel here: https://philippineslifestyle.com/iat...ign-nationals/.

It appears that the borders are open and actually trying to attract foreigners.

GE.

[JonesLover]

Hey, the first days of March I'd like to reach Davao from Europe. Do you know if Davao is open to tourism?

Thank you!

[South By Sw 3]

Cool that you posted their website! I'm so used to it now filling up that form, I don't know how many times I filled up. An advise about filling-up that form, if sometimes you are going to a strict city (Alert Level 3 or up), and the S-Pass won't allow you, just ask a friend for her address in a city close by that is Alert level 2 or better, or you can put a hotel you stayed in that city before, I did that before and they never check.

I'm getting my paperwork in order. Google "Philippines S-PASS Philippines" and "Philippines one health pass" and the sites will come up.

One Health Pass was simple if you have pictures of you vax and ID. However, they won't process it until 3 days before your arrival.

The S-PaSS site was not loading at first, but now I'm registered with a friend's local phone number. They use it as your user ID to sign in to the site, so you can't change it. You'd have create a new account. The phone number doesn't appear to matter since S-Pass doesn't send updates or confirmation codes to the phone number. If I need to download the app, it it might be a problem. You can't apply more than 2 days ahead. I filed a test travel itinerary (MNL to Bohol) in two days just to see what the Travel Coordination Permit form asks for. The documents that they wanted for a vaxxed tourist were photo ID and proof of vax. Guess I'll see if it is approved tomorrow. Probably not because I uploaded a non-PH vax card.

Cebu City and Mandaue look like the only restricted cities on Cebu. Consolacion, Cordova, Talisay City and Lapu-Lapu City (Opon?) are Unrestricted. So in theory, MNL to Lapu-Lapu wouldn't require an S-Pass at all. Going to Talisay City would require a Pass Through Permit for Cebu City, but in either case once you were on the ground you can just move around with your One Health Pass. Am I missing something? If I tell them at the airport that I'm staying at the Mactan District Budgetel, will they want me to show a reservation or something? If I decide the Budgetel doesn't have enough marble in the lobby and I check out to go across the channel to the Radisson Blu I should get a S-Pass. But I'm guessing no one would know or care. Does anyone actually scan the S-Pass QR at the airport for a domestic flight or do they just look at it?

South By Sw 3 / 2.

[WestCoast1]

https://news.yahoo.com/philippines-w...024208329.html

From the article:

Wed, February 9, 2022, 9:42 PM2 min read

MANILA, Philippines (AP) The Philippines lifted a nearly 2-year ban on foreign travelers Thursday in a lifesaving boost for its tourism and related industries as an omicron-fueled surge eases.

Foreign travelers from 157 countries with visa-free arrangements with the Philippines who have been fully vaccinated and tested negative for the virus will be welcomed back and will no longer be required to quarantine upon arrival. The government also ended a risk classification system that banned travelers from the worst-hit countries.

We will begin the next chapter in the road to recovery, Tourism Secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat said. She added the border reopening would restore jobs and generate revenue across tourism-related enterprises and communities.

[DzikaBomba]

I have been checking airfares and they are dropping to $1000 RT for next week. Down from $1400-1700 a week ago. Seat maps show no increase in passengers.

Booking in March are still in the $1400-1700 range with no increase passengers in the seat maps. Hopefully fares will be down to $1000 in a few weeks.

I will go to Cebu in May.

Turkish Airlines just started a new connection directly to Cebu 3 x per week with a short stop in MNL.

That's great news, because from Europe you always had to Transit in other Asian cities to fly directly to Cebu.

No I have this better and faster Option and start from my small local airport in Cologne / Germany.

But Prices still high. About 1000€, they already went down a bit, but I'm waiting for 600-700€ and book then.

[AsianPursuits]

I have been checking airfares and they are dropping to $1000 RT for next week. Down from $1400-1700 a week ago. Seat maps show no increase in passengers.

Booking in March are still in the $1400-1700 range with no increase passengers in the seat maps. Hopefully fares will be down to $1000 in a few weeks.

I've been tracking prices from SYD & BNE to MNL for the past few months. I haven't seen any change yet. In fact if anything it seems to have trended up! We really need the low cost carriers like AirAsia to start putting prices into the market.

I've written in another forum about BNE-Bali, I can get a fare for $300 return. MNL $1,200 return for the same dates. I do prefer the Filipina culture but I can also have a lot of fun with the $900 splashed on Indo girls.

[Dg8787]

I have been checking airfares and they are dropping to $1000 RT for next week. Down from $1400-1700 a week ago. Seat maps show no increase in passengers.

Booking in March are still in the $1400-1700 range with no increase passengers in the seat maps. Hopefully fares will be down to $1000 in a few weeks.

[Dg8787]

Any mongers storming the shores of Philippines February 10 or thereafter?