Palawan Travel Advisory

Travel Philippines

Sep 21, 2020

Before you enter Palawan’s paradise, take note of all the important travel advisories and guidelines to keep both tourists and locals safe.

Quarantine Category

Puerto Princesa will be on MECQ until June 15, 2021.
Effective June 15 to August 1, 2021, recreation / leisure / tourism activities will not be allowed in Coron.
Starting June 5 until June 20, El Nido will not accept inbound tourists except for those in point-to-point travel bubbles originating from inside and outside of Palawan.

Guidelines Specific to Palawan

EL NIDO

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS FOR PALAWAN-BASED TOURISTS

Valid Id
QR-coded Tourist Id (QT-ID). Get this from https://elnidotourism.ph/ by submitting the required documents.
DOT-accredited hotel booking
Negative anti-gen test result taken within the last 24 hours prior to arrival in El Nido

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS FOR OTHER DOMESTIC TOURISTS

Valid ID
QR-coded Tourist Id (QT-ID). Get this from https://elnidotourism.ph/ by submitting the required documents.
Negative RT-PCR test result undertaken within the last 72 hours prior to arrival in El Nido
DOT-accredited hotel booking
Return ticket

All tourists staying in El Nido for more than 7 days must accomplish an antigen test on their 8th day in El Nido. Tourists who will test positive on the antigen will undergo mandatory 7-day facility quarantine. Testing and quarantine fees will be shouldered by the tourist.

Please note as well that tourists must have a digital copy or printed copy of these requirements when they enter El Nido.

Which travel destinations are open?

Each set of island-hopping tours shall not exceed three (3) attractions. Combination tours are not allowed. The following tour packages are available for tourists:

PREMIUM TOURS (Please note that only DOT-accredited Local Tour Operators are allowed to conduct Premium Tours.)

Small Lagoon Premium: Small Lagoon, Payong-Payong, and Secret Lagoon
Big Lagoon Premium: Big Lagoon, Shimizu Island, and West Entalula Beach
Matinloc Island Premium: Hidden Beach, Secret Beach, and Matinloc Shrine

REGULAR TOURS

Cave Exploration Tours: Cudugnon Cave, Snake Island, and Cathedral Cave
Tapiutan Strait: Talisay Small, Talisay Beach, and Istar Beach
Cadlao Channel Tour: Cadlao Lagoon, Pasandigan Cove, and Dilumacad Island
History Island Tour: Pinagbuyutan Island, Sandbar, and 7 Commando Beach

CORON

Who are allowed to visit:

All tourists coming from different parts of the Philippines, including foreigners who are currently residing in the country, are allowed to visit Coron. Age restriction no longer applies.

Places to visit:

All tourist destinations within Coron that have obtained a Mayor’s Permit to Operate 2020 from the local government are open to tourists daily. In addition, all tourism-related establishments within Coron that have obtained a Mayor’s Permit to Operate 2020 from the local government as well as a Certificate of Authority to Operate from the Department of Tourism are allowed to cater to tourists.

Guidelines in traveling to Coron:

Tourists must present:

Negative NPS-OPS RT PCR Test with QR Code from a DOH-accredited laboratory or a negative saliva test result with QR code from Philippine Red Cross, taken 72 hours before the flight / sea travel from the time and date collected.
Confirmed hotel booking from DOT-accredited accommodations.
Confirmed booking with licensed tour or diving services.
Return ticket
QR code from https://corontourism.ph/. Before the issuance of a QR code from the said website, all QR code applications shall be validated first by the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Coron. You may apply at your own convenient time. You will receive a designated QR code from 8am to 5pm only.

Evaluation and Testing

All arriving guests should have a negative RT-PCR test taken 48-72 hours prior to travel.
All arriving tourists will undergo a health assessment upon arrival at the triage area of Francisco Reyes Airport.
If found to be symptomatic, a mandatory antigen test will be conducted with a fee amounting to Php 3,500.00, which will be shouldered by the tourist.
If tested positive, tourists will be brought to the hotel isolation room for COVID-19 positive where he/she is booked. (See health protocols below)

Guidelines while in Coron:

All tourists will be subjected to regulated movement.
Since tours are pre-booked, all tourists are required to coordinate with the front desk officer regarding their itinerary, in order for them to work hand-in-hand with the travel agency.
All transfers going out and coming back to the hotel are strictly to be arranged by the hotel accommodations. Everything should be logged for contact tracing purposes. Transportation protocols must be strictly followed such as, but not limited to: 50% seating capacity, wearing of face shields and face masks every time, ensuring physical distancing, and frequent hand sanitation from time to time.
All businesses are only allowed to operate at 50% capacity.
All businesses are only allowed to operate until 10:00 PM.
During daily tours, all tourist boats and destinations will only be strictly allowed to operate at 50% capacity. They must also adhere with the minimum health protocols.
Tourists will not be allowed to wander in the streets.

Health protocols for tourists:

When a tourist starts to manifest symptoms for COVID-19 and is found to have been in direct contact with an active positive case, he/she will be referred to the Municipal Health Office for further health assessment.
He/She will be subjected to mandatory Antigen tests with a corresponding fee of Php 3,500.00.
If required, an RT-PCR test will be conducted and its sample will be sent to the nearest licensed RT-PCR laboratory for processing. Tourists will be assigned to a hotel isolation room for COVID-19 patients where he/she is booked while waiting for the results.
If determined to have deployed severe symptoms, tourists will be referred immediately to the Culion Sanitarium and General Hospital for Medication. All related expenses will be shouldered by the tourist.
Tourists must be responsible for any medical/accommodation bills related to COVID-19 while in the municipality of Coron.

When leaving Coron:

From their hotel, tourists will go directly to the airport. Stopovers will not be allowed.
Secure your documentary requirements for entry to your next destination.

PUERTO PRINCESA

Requirements

Secure a COVID-19 negative RT-PCR test taken within the past 48 hours prior to departure from testing facilities accredited by the Department of Health (DOH). The test result shall indicate clearly the date and time the swab was taken. Instruct the DOH-accredited testing facility to email test results to the city's Incident Management Team (IMT). The City's IMT shall announce and disseminate its official email address for this purpose.
Register with StaySafe.ph and the S-PaSS Travel Management System of the Department of Science and Technology
Tourists shall submit themselves to COVID-19 rapid antigen tests on the 3rd day and 7th day from arrival and entry. This shall be at the tourists' expense.
Must present itinerary with tours and accommodations booked via a DOT-accredited travel agency or hotel.

Airlines

El Nido: Airswift
Coron: Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines
Puerto Princesa: Air Asia, Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines

Emergency Contacts

For health concerns, please contact any of the following:

Ospital ng Palawan
- (+63 48) 434 8339; (+63 48) 434 2148; (+63 48) 433 2621
- http://onp.doh.gov.ph/
- ospital.palawan@yahoo.com
Culion Sanitarium and General Hospital
- (+63 48) 433 7743; (+63 48) 759 3956 to 12
- doh_culsan@yahoo.com.ph
For tourism-related concerns, please contact the Palawan Provincial Tourism Office at (+63 977) 368 8207 or at (+63 947) 392 3139.
For safety and security, please contact the Palawan Police Provincial at (+63 48) 433 4363.
Covid Hotline or other health hotlines Provincial IATF Focal Person - Dr. Jeremias Y Alili 09177756640

List of RT PCR labs available (DOH Accredited)

Ospital ng Palawan 220 Malvar Road, Barangay San Miguel, Puerto Princesa, 5300 Palawan
Culion Sanitarium and General Hospital Robert St., Brgy Tiza, Culion, Palawan 5315