Starting November 1, tourists can have free COVID-19 swab tests for domestic travels around the Philippines.
According to a report from the Department of Tourism (DOT), the program is part of the Department’s extensive efforts to market and promote the country as a safe tourism destination and pave the way to a more robust recovery of the tourism industry.
As travel restrictions continue to ease up, we aim to encourage more tourists to visit their destination of choice by providing a full subsidy on RT-PCR testing. This program helps ensure the safety of tourists, tourism workers, and local stakeholders in various destinations
Tourism Secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat said.
Under the endowment, a sum of 350 candidates each day will be allowed free RT-PCR (Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction) tests at the Philippine Children’s Medical Center (PCMC) beginning Monday.
A number of the country’s go-to destinations currently acknowledge fully vaccinated guests without requiring the swab test. The free testing is just for homegrown tourists whose destination cities actually require a RT-PCR test for staycation/ tour purposes.
The program is important for the Department’s broad endeavors to advertise and advance the nation’s protected travel industry.
The organization with PCMC was first carried out in December 2020 covering 50 percent of the clinic’s swab trying expense. In excess of 15,000 travelers profited themselves of the appropriation program from January to June this year.
On June 23, the second period of the program was carried out covering July to December 2021. This is presently changed to take care of the P1,500 full expense of the RT-PCR test with a cap of 350 supported candidates each day. This will help in excess of 12,000 qualified homegrown vacationers until the year’s end.
Already, the TPB additionally collaborated with the University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital in financing 50% of the medical clinic’s swab trying for homegrown vacationers, which represented 17,320 sightseers from Dec. 18, 2020 to July 7, 2021.
Domestic tourists wishing to benefit from the free testing at PCMC may visit https://www.tpb.gov.ph/rtpcrphtravel/ for application strategies and prerequisites.
They may likewise visit https://app.philippines.travel/ to get the most recent news and updates on movement prerequisites across the country.
Directions to Philippine Children’s Medical Center
Erica is a former PR pro turned entrepreneur. Her greatest joys are family, blogging, music, skin care and social justice. As a Muay Thai enthusiast, Erica prides herself on working with increased focus, humility and diligence. She believes in living a fit life doing everything with a flair of creativity and love! Stalk her social channels @thegirlwiththemujihat
2022 Note: This blog post was originally published in 2013, but since it is one of the most-viewed posts, I update it every time to include the latest research, up-to-date information, and most helpful tips on this topic.
Please check the comments section especially THE FEATURED COMMENT on the Disqus thread. As of today, the travel ban is still lifted. DOST/CHED/SUC scholars are removed from the BI watchlist.
Just got back from my Taiwan trip last week. As usual, I didn’t secure travel clearance from DOST before leaving yet didn’t encounter any problem with immigration at the airport.
This just proves, DOST scholars like me can travel outside the Philippines without having to apply for clearance.
If you are a DOST scholar and you want to travel abroad, you may travel without applying for any document/ clearance to get through the BI officers. Unless you have other lawful cases, nothing can prevent you from traveling abroad!
IMPORTANT NOTE:
You can verify if there is a derogatory record against you that may prevent you from departing the Philippines. I also did this a week before my flight schedule.
HOW TO VERIFY YOUR NAME FOR A DEROGATORY RECORD:
1) Visit the Immigration office near Intramuros, Manila and file a request for verification at the Clearance and Certification Section.
2) Fill out the small form, and present it along with your passport at Window 10. You don’t need to pay anything but if you wish to obtain a certification, you’d have to pay respective fees.
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The distressing and controversial travel restrictions imposed upon DOST scholars were lifted Tuesday, June 14, 2012, in a memo released by the Bureau of Immigration Commissioner, Ricardo A. David Jr.
Please refer to the screenshot below for the signed copy of the Memorandum.
The memorandum is addressed to the Chief of Information and Communications Technology Chief, Jolly Bert G. Galleon, and Airport Operations Division Chief, Benito G. Se, Jr., stating the removal of the names of DOST scholars from the watch list. Thus, starting from June 19, 2012, DOST Scholars will no longer be required to secure TRAVEL CLEARANCE from DOST nor any document from the Bureau of Immigration to travel out of the country unless the concerned scholar is prevented to travel by some other lawful case.
Indeed this is great news for scholars who wish to travel abroad!
By the way, for those who haven’t applied for their passports yet, you might want to apply now.
Don’t worry, you just need your PSA Birth Certificate and two valid IDs.
Please don’t use your NBI clearance with travel restrictions as I’m not so sure if you’d be required to present DOST-related documents because of the travel restriction hit.
Let’s keep updating one another down the comment section below! Thanks!
After a 45-minute drive from Puerto Princesa City proper, the entrance to a lush property appears. At the barrier gate, the security checked our van and confirmed the number of passengers aboard. The driver continued to drive onto the steepest slope. We’ve arrived. I just realized I had been enjoying the uphill turns and the trees along the way so much, I didn’t notice the time.
Surrounded by deep blue-green water and majestic mountain range, Kamia Bay Resort, a hideaway offering day trip packages, just had an intensive makeover to house Asia’s largest inflatable waterpark to date, the Aqua Play Parks.
Of all the resorts in Puerto Princesa, this vast property is the only one with an aqua play park. Guests opt to come here in groups to challenge themselves on the mountainous inflatable obstacles or try activities such as jet skiing, speed boating, paddle boarding, ball games, and even cycling. That said, Kamia Bay Resort is known for action sports yet still has all of the elements to make it a place to de-stress, reconnect with nature; for guests to be slow and still.
No less thrilling a feature of Kamia Bay Resort is its ecotour where guests can explore the entire property on foot or bicycle. The trail weaves through lines of trees and mangroves making it fairly cooler. At the far side of the resort are rock formations. Adjacent to it is a forest of slender trees. I think the place is like a venue for shooting an enchanted movie scene. I had some “mermaid shots” and other crazy poses in the area.
Can’t get enough of photographs
I swear you’d also enjoy taking pictures here
Or even here
During lunchtime, we ate at the big pavilion assigned to our bloggers group. I cherished this meal so much because we dined complete with AquaPlayParks.com CEO Mr. Peter Appleton, celebrities Wilma Doesnt and Markino Casiano, and United Bloggers Philippines team headed by Ms. Bette Medina.
Food is great in the resort. You don’t have to worry about being restricted from bringing your own food, the buffet lunch is already sumptuous and tasty. It is reasonably priced as well. I particularly loved the chicken and that crispy turon we ate for snack. I see the resort has embraced the distinctive use of local fresh fruits, spices, and creative cooking of meat ingredients.
Ms. Bette and our lunch
Rates and Packages
For as low as Php 788 pesos, you can enjoy the an hour of play in the park, ecotour, buffet lunch, and all day pass to the resort.
Other rates are seen below:
AQUA PLAY – PHP788/Person (1 HR in Aqua Park, Eco Tour, Buffet Lunch)
AQUA PLAY UNLI – PHP1488/Person (Unlimited use of Aqua Park, Eco Tour, Buffet lunch)
AQUA ADVENTURE – PHP1188/Person (1 HR in qua park, Eco Tour, Buffet lunch, Roundtrip transfer)
AQUA ADVENTURE UNLIMITED – PHP1788/Person (Unlimited use of Aqua Park, Eco Tour, Buffet lunch, Roundtrip Transfer)
ENTRANCE FEE – Php 200
BUFFET LUNCH – Php 488 for adults and Php 299 for kids
CYCLING WITH YOUR OWN BIKE – Php 200 (bike all you can)
Jet-skiing and island-hopping are also available for additional fees.
I highly recommend you avail of the ecotour and of course the play park use. A bonus side trip to the Puting Buhangin Beach is also a great idea. Talk to a resort staff to arrange for this.
There is no public transportation to use to go to Kamia Bay. Although, I heard, you can rent a motorcycle to go there. I’d love to try this next time. But for group of travelers, rent a van. I highly recommend you avail of the package tour to Kamia Bay with round trip transfers. Again, the price is reasonable.
I also recommend you follow Kamia Bay Resort’s Facebook Page to know more about their ongoing promos. Watch out for updates. Sometimes, a big group of guests rent out the entire property for a special event. You don’t wanna walk in for nothing. So it is best to check them out.
You can send them email here: amikatravels@yahoo.com
Call them through: 0917 543 5770
Me and Wilma Doesnt at Puting buhangin Beach
Parting words
There is much to like about Kamia Bay Resort. There are countless activities to try, delectable food to eat, abundant nature reserves to admire, and very hospitable staff to talk to. No doubt it is for travelers of all ages. At Kamia Bay Resort, anyone can have the impressive opportunity to enjoy the water and the sand, have time to reconnect with nature without forgetting the fun with people and food.
What do you think about Kamia Bay Resort? Do you want to visit this property? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below. Thank you for reading and sharing this article!
