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
Getting ready for your first international trip from the Philippines? Check out this easy-to-follow NAIA Airport Guide to ensure a smooth departure.
Are you excited to travel out of the country? Nervous to talk to the immigration officers in NAIA? Anxious you’d forget something important? Almost clueless of what to do when you arrive at the airport? I completely get you. I had the same mixed emotions the first time I traveled.
Truth be told, my very first flight departure experience was memorable for all the wrong reasons.
In a nutshell, I was detained at the immigration center; I almost missed my flight. Not that I didn’t do my homework of knowing the airport procedures for my departure, it’s just that I felt overwhelmed and yeah, things got out of hand…
You see there are so many things going on at the airport. With a stream of passengers everywhere, announcements and noises to keep your attention, it’s necessary you know what to do and where to go BY HEART.
In this post, let me share a guide on stress-free airport departure procedures in Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminals.
My reference for this post would mainly be my personal experience—things I learned the hard way—and some NAIA airport guides.
Naturally, after securing travel documents and packing your stuff, you leave your house and head to the airport.
NAIA DEPARTURE STEP 1 – Initial Security Check
A. Head to the Airport entrance.
Get off the taxi/ bus/ PUV. Take your luggage with you. If a person in uniform offers you help, you can opt to let him BUT know that you have to pay PHP 50 afterwards. It is his job as a “porter” even if he doesn’t tell you beforehand. In some domestic airports, some people will offer help then ask for a tip. In such case you can give at least PHP20 depending on how far and how heavy your stuff is. DON’T FORGET to keep an eye on your belongings though.
PRO TIP: Ready your Passport and printed itinerary. Present it to the security personnel upon entrance.
B. At the entrance, expect tons of passengers in line (especially at TERMINAL 1) to enter the airport building.
Choose the entrance that corresponds to the airline company in your itinerary. Look at the signs above your head. Though you can practically enter at any entrance gate, it is civilized to pass through your designated point of entry.
Prepare your itinerary/ boarding pass and Passport. If you are traveling domestic, ready your itinerary/ boarding pass and Valid ID. Show them politely to the security and enter the building.
C. Upon entering, place all your belongings to the conveyor belt and let them pass through the x-ray machine.
PRO TIP: Use the trays for your small items (i.e mobile phones, belt, shoes, etc).
As this happens, step through the metal detector and have yourself inspected by the officer. It doesn’t really take long. After you are clear, promptly get your stuff and return the tray that you used to its proper place.
NAIA DEPARTURE STEP 2 – Obtain Check-in details from flight information screen
A. After the initial security check, head to the nearest flight information monitor.
It is the screen that shows flight information, designated check-in counters and other related info about a passenger’s flight.
B. Look up your flight number on the screen and see your check-in counter. The check-in counter opens usually 2 hours before an international flight and an hour before a domestic flight.
So you will see a table with Flight number – check-in counter – status.
Something like this:
Flight No.
Destination
Counter
Status
PR 5678
MNL – NRT
E4-E9
OPEN
5J 5570
MNL -BKK
T-V
—
*this is just sample table, based on how I remember it
So if your flight is PR 5678 bound for NRT from MNL, you can check-in at counters E4, E5, E6, E7, E8 or E9.
If your flight is 5570 check in counter is not yet open. You have to wait. If it opens, your check-in counter would be any counter from T to V. It’s not so difficult. I believe you’ll be able to figure it out easily.
NAIA DEPARTURE STEP 3 – Payment of Travel Tax and Terminal Fee
A. BEFORE PROCEEDING TO YOUR CHECK-IN COUNTER for check-in, I STRONGLY SUGGEST you pay the tax and terminal fee first.
The cashier is in the far left end of NAIA Terminal 3. For terminal 2 here it is.
In most cases the counters are jam-packed with passengers, you’d have to wait in line for a couple of minutes. At the counter, you’d be asked to show your passport, itinerary and travel tax receipt. That means if you check-in first before paying the tax, you’d have to go out of the check-in area again, go to the tax section, queue, pay, go back to the check-in area again, queue, present your receipt… do you get my point?
BASICALLY, it should be
TAX/ TERMINAL FEE PAYMENT >> CHECK-IN
and not the other way around. Some security personnel direct passengers to the check-in counters without asking them whether they’ve paid the tax and terminal fee already, as a result, the passenger/passengers would experience the inconvenience. So I am telling you, pay the travel tax and terminal fee first before you check-in – BUT DO THIS ONLY WHEN YOU ARE SURE THE TRAVEL TAX IS NOT INCLUDED IN YOUR AIRFARE/PAID ONLINE
(Just a story about my unwise decision to pay my tax before check in EVEN IF I didn’t know if my ticket included the travel tax: When I was at the terminal 1 last year, I mistakenly paid my tax first prior to check-in – the staff asked me if I had checked in already to which I answered with a nod – so when I checked in, apparently my ticket already included the tax – if I weren’t almost late to boarding I could have refunded the tax I paid right then and there BUT no… long story short, I needed to go to the TIEZA office near SM MOA for a travel tax refund)
Look at the sign, there should be step 1 or First Step. Line up. Wait for your turn. If it is your turn, show your passport and your boarding pass/ itinerary. Answer the question if asked such as “where are you travelling?” then pay PHP 1620. Wait for the receipt. Politely say thank you after the transaction.
NAIA DEPARTURE STEP 4 – Check-in your Baggage
A. Go to your designated counter and check-in.
Hand your itinerary/ printed boarding pass, TERMINAL FEE/TAX receipt and PASSPORT to the airport crew.
PRO TIP: If you check-in online you can queue on web check-in counter.
After checking in, you’ll be given your BOARDING PASS with your corresponding GATE NO. and BOARDING TIME. The airport staff will confirm the details on your boarding pass and make sure you understand the said details.
Do not forget your gate number.
And DO NOT LOSE your boarding pass.
NAIA DEPARTURE STEP 5 – Immigration
A. Get past the check-in counters and head to the immigration. Don’t be confused. As for directions, follow the person ahead of you or ask an airport officer.
At the immigration area, you’d be needing to fill out a DEPARTURE FORM.
Departure Card I filled out for my trip to Taiwan
PRO TIP: If there are many people, fill out the DEPARTURE FORM while in line especially if you are in a hurry. USE BLACK BALLPOINT PEN. WRITE LEGIBLY AND NEATLY.
B. Proceed to the Bureau of Immigration officer window. Hand your departure card and passport to the officer. No need to show your boarding pass/ return ticket unless asked.
Answer the immigration officer’s queries. DO NOT TAKE THIS PERSONALLY especially when the officer is sounding indifferent or hostile. It is just another airport SOP.
The usual question would be: Where will you go? Who will you travel with? What is your job? Where will you stay? When will you go back to the Philippines?
Bureau of Immigration officers will sound serious. They are not supposed to be friendly so again, do not take this personally. Make sure to be calm, honest and polite. They can deny you to board the plane (for legal reasons) so exercise your manners. Wait for them to stamp your Passport. If you are a DOST scholar who has not applied for clearance yet, this post is for you.
NAIA DEPARTURE STEP 6 – Final Security Check
A. After you get your Passport stamped, proceed to the final security check.
Again, place your stuff in the conveyor belt (your small belongings into a tray) and have them scanned. Step through the metal detector for self-inspection. After you are clear, get your stuff, put the tray back to its proper place. Politely say thank you to the officers if they help you out.
NAIA DEPARTURE STEP 7 – Boarding
A. Go to your assigned boarding gate and calmly wait at the lounge for your boarding time.
B. Board the plane.
You might need to queue again. But listen to the announcement about which seats to go in first. Normally passengers by the window go in first or rows 16-28 take the rear entrance. Pay attention to the announcements made at the airport. It may come in handy for sudden changes like if your boarding gate is changed or your flight is delayed, etc. Queue, SHOW YOUR BOARDING PASS to the airport crew and then get on the plane.
Did you find this post useful? Do you have other airport departure tips and techniques you want to add here or some airport hacks you want to share? Let us know in the comment section below! And yeah, if this is useful, please do share!
If you wanna know which airline operates at which terminal of Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Manila Airport), he is a list. I have also included the International Air Transport Association (IATA) code.
The listed terminals above are the terminals used by the airlines mentioned for flight arrivals and departures. In some cases, these terminals can change. It is highly advisable to check for the information in your flight ticket or flight changes advisory from your airline.
Did you find this article helpful? Let me know your thoughts in the comments section below!
