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May 2021 – Requirements to Travel to Cebu Province

If you are planning to travel to Cebu province as a domestic tourists, here are some of the requirements needed.

  • Medical Certificate that says you’re fit to travel
  • Pre Booked Accredited Hotel/Resort with COC within Cebu Province

On the other hand, for incoming Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) and Returning Non-Overseas Workers (ROF)

  • Swab upon arrival at the airport (results comes out within 3 days) If results are NEGATIVE, you may proceed to going home to your families. If results are POSITIVE, you’ll be quarantined.

So to conclude, if you are visiting Cebu province as a tourist, please make sure that you are pre-booked to any accredited hotel or resort with Certificate of Compliance. You can visit this link to check if they have COCs. They might need you to present some other requirements that are not mentioned above, please comply and present your booking confirmation together with your medical certificate upon entry to Cebu Province.

You can visit Cebu Provincial Tourism Office Facebook page for more information.

We, at Cebu Tours, can only arrange your tours within Cebu (for now) provided that you have complied all the requirements mentioned above.

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Cebu Province: No more negative Covid-19 test result requirements for domestic tourists

Governor Gwendolyn Garcia lays down a looser and a list of new requirements for non-APORs and domestic tourists who are going to visit Cebu Province.

In an Executive Order No 12 Series of 2021, signed by Gov Gwen Garcia on February 22, 2021, it says that tourists from other parts of the Philippines who wish to travel and visit Cebu Province will only need to have the following requirements:

  • A valid medical certificate from a reputable doctor which should be issued seven days prior to your flight.
  • A confirmed accommodation from an accredited hotel or resort by the Provincial Task Force.

In addition to the requirements listed, travelers must also pass the symptoms checking and screening in seaports and airports.

It is also being said that if the Local Government Unit (LGU) will issue additional requirements or regulations, travelers must comply. However, these regulations must be approved by the Cebu Provincial Government and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).

These were agreed during the meeting between the tourism stakeholders in the province with the Governor and the whole Cebu Provincial Government.

“As the Provincial Government of Cebu is reviving the economy that has regressed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there is a need to ease the travel restrictions of persons travelling into the Province for tourism-related activities in observance to the Omnibus Guidelines on the Implementation of Community Quarantine in the Philippines and other resolutions of the IATF-MEID,” the document said.

So, if you have the requirements ready and want to visit Cebu Province, you can visit this link for available tours. It is highly recommended that you book your tours online to avoid contact with other persons.

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‘Tuob’ Kits, Healthy welcome drinks among Cebu’s new offering in Ecotourism

Cebu as a “health and wellness destination” — this is the re-branding encouraged by the provincial government in the revival of local tourism.

Tourism recovery plans, in consideration with the mandatory public health standards, were discussed in a meeting with Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia last June 10 along the mayors and tourism officers of the different towns and cities of Cebu Province.

They aim to not only save lives but also the livelihood of every Cebuano.

governor garcia cebu

Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia

“Government cannot sustain this kind of lockdown, kani nga mga restriction. Government cannot sustain having to shell out more and more funds aron lang sa pagpakaon aning mga nawad-an na’g trabaho, wala na’y panginabuhi. We cannot do this. Or else we will have to set aside our future for the next two, three, four, five years. It’s time to move on and we must move on,”

– Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia

Ecotourism activities to return:

Present in the meeting were mayors and tourism officers of Cordova, Daanbantayan, San Remigio, Santa Fe, Moalboal, Alegria, Oslob, and Badian.

Health protocols discussed were:

  • Canyoonering in Badian– with 400 guests a day instead of 1,000 (in the past)
  • “Tuob Kits” – Resorts offering steam inhalation or “tuob” kits in each room which will consist of a basin, a kettle, and a towel. It is also known as a water vapor therapy.
  • Welcome drinks – made from salabat (ginger tea), calamansi, and duwaw (turmeric) with honey will be offered to the guests.
  • Equipment commonly used in tour activities- life vests and other protective gears will be disinfected through ultraviolet light sanitation device.
  • Foot baths- they will be in place and each room will accommodate one person only.
  • Oslob whale-watching activity – a family will not be mixed with other guests. Life vests will also be sanitized after every use.
  • Boat passes in Moalboal- issued to accredited motor banca operators credible of the mandatory safety or public health standards.

“With foreign arrivals being very scarce, we only have ourselves to ask help for. Hopefully, under new normal, we start thinking our health more and our economy. Kita-kita ra’y makasulbad ani. Cebu helping Cebu. Hinaut nga ang taga-Tabuelan, for example, motabang sa taga-Moalboal,”

– Andrei “Red” Duterte, 5th district Provincial Board Member (Chairman of the committee on tourism)

This article is originally posted in Sugbo.ph

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Coronavirus in Philippines: The Covid-19 risk, impact and measures

Philippines, one of the high-risk countries from the Wuhan coronavirus outbreak, recorded the first death outside China.

When did coronavirus reach the Philippines?

The first case of novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV, now Covid-19) in the Philippines was confirmed on 30 January 2020, in a 38-year old woman who arrived from Wuhan. Two days later, the Philippines recorded the first death outside China on 01 February 2020.

As of 02 March, Philippines coronavirus cases stand at three including one death. One person has recovered and discharged from the hospital.

Coronavirus affected on Diamond Princess cruise ship

Seven passengers onboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship and more than half of the crew are from the Philippines, among who 80 have been confirmed to have contracted the virus.

The Philippines government repatriated 445 its citizens on board the ship including ten recovered cases on 25 February. The evacuees have been placed under a two-week quarantine at New Clark City in Capas.

A total of 70 confirmed cases were not allowed to board the evacuation flight.

How risky is coronavirus to the Philippines?

coronavirus-NAIA-3_CNNPHDue to its proximity to China, the Philippines is at a far greater risk of witnessing increased cases of the novel coronavirus infection compared to other countries.

The Philippines is also home to hundreds of workers from China working in the Philippine Offshore Gambling Operation (firms offering online gambling services). More than 230,000 migrant Filippinos often referred to as Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) are also working in China particularly Hong Kong and Macau as household workers.

A temporary ban was imposed on the workers from travelling to China or its special administrative regions after the coronavirus outbreak on 2 February. The ban was lifted on 18th February allowing OFWs to return to Hong Kong and Macau.

Manila is among the top 30 global cities receiving airline passengers from 18 high-risk cities in China, according to WorldPop which ranked Philippines 14th among the 30 high-risk countries.

Chinese nationals account for the majority of the tourist population visiting the country as trade and cultural relations have increased between the two countries in the recent past.

Coronavirus Philippines update: First death outside China

The 44-year old Chinese national, who died, was the relative of the first patient diagnosed with 2019-nCoV. The patient developed severe pneumonia.

Preventive measures taken by the Philippines government

The Philippines government is taking several steps to control the spread of the virus, including travel restrictions, closure of schools and colleges, as well as training schools of the Philippines National Police.

The government announced on 2 February 2020 that all persons except Filipino citizens and permanent resident visa holders were temporarily barred from entering the country.

A temporary ban on Filipinos from travelling to China or its special administrative region was also imposed. A mandatory 14-day quarantine for Filipinos returning to from China or its special administrative region was announced.

Further, visa upon arrival for Chinese nationals has been temporarily suspended.

Travel ban to South Korea

The Philippines government issued a temporary ban on 26 February on all citizens from travelling to South Korea, as the country reported a spike in the number of confirmed cases.

Further, people from the affected regions of South Korea including Gyeongbuk, Daegu and Cheongdo have been banned from entering into the country.

Coronavirus in the Philippines: Measures at airports

The Philippines Government announced travel restrictions to and from China, Hong Kong, and Macau to minimise the spread. It also banned entry of passengers from the three countries.

Airlines cancelled flights from Philippines to China resulting in stranding.

Face masks shortage – importing from India and Thailand

Philippines witnessed a surge in demand for face masks as fears over the coronavirus infection increased, despite assurance from the government that there is no need to wear face masks yet.

The government reiterated that healthcare workers and patients with symptoms of the disease should be given priority for masks.

The Philippines International Trading Corporation (PITC), meanwhile, identified two face mask suppliers from India and Thailand to meet the demand for face masks.

The suppliers are expected to take more than 30 days to supply the masks. The India-based supplier is expected to supply one million units, while the exact number of face masks that the Thailand-based supplier can supply is yet to be determined.

The masks will be imported either by the DoH or the PITC.

Coronavirus outbreak: Impact on the Philippines

Metric Value
Population 106.65 million (2018)
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) $330.9bn (2018)
Trade in Services 19.7%
Trade Balance Deficit ($3.3bn)
Biggest Importer China (22.9% in November 2019)
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