Boracay, Cebu, Palawan, Baguio: No more PCR test in 30 Philippine destinations for fully vaccinated

RE-OPENING TO THE VACCINATED: At least 30 major cities or destinations across the Philippines are now open to tourists — provided that the travellers are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. The Philippines has fully inoculated 29.3 million individuals while 34.4 million have received an initial dose as of Saturday, according to government data.

TOP PERFORMERS: The province of Cavite, as well as cities of Davao (whose maritime port is shown above), Angeles, Baguio, Iloilo, Ormoc, Mabalacat along with Antipolo have recorded the highest vaccination rates among prioritised areas. From November 3, 2021, the government started inoculating minors aged 12 to 17 against SARS-CoV-2 from November 3, 2021 using either using Pfizer or Moderna shots.

ANGELES CITY: The “City of Angels”, one hour north of Manila, has recorded an 86.15% partial vaccination and 65.07% full vaccination rates. Photo shows the Angeles City Museum in Pampanga.

ANTIPOLO CITY: A view of Manila from the hillside city of Antipolo, Philippines.

BOHOL: “Chocolate Hills” in Bohol, Philippines. The name comes from the vegetation turning to a chocolate color during the summer. There may be as many as 1,776 hills spread over an area of more than 50 square kilometres. The local government announced it has opened its borders to fully-vaccinated travellers.

BORACAY: The world-famous tourist destination has allowed entry of fully-vaccinated travellers from November 16, 2021, according to local government officials.

CAMIGUIN: A drone view of a tourist spot in Camiguin, an island in central Philippines, which has allowed the entry of fully-vaccinated travelers from November 15.

ILOILO CITY: The city has reported that 102.18% of the eligible population are now fully vaccinated out of a target population of 335,172.

CEBU CITY: The so-called “Queen City of the South” has reported a vaccinated rate of 68.23% of target population of 719,979 given at least one dose, while 54.71% fully vaccinated. Photo shows the circa 1730 Jesuit House in Cebu City, Philippines.

BAGUIO CITY: Dubbed as the “City of Pines”, 79.32% of the the target population of 262,185 are now fully vaccinated, and 106%.25% are partly vaccinated (including previously-unlisted population).

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY: The “City of Golden Friendship” has recorded as 69.51% rate of partial vaccination and 52.87% full vaccination. A Filipina working her dog in Cagayan De Oro City, Mindanao, Philippines.

GUIMARAS: The island, known as the “Mango Capital of the Philippines”, has started in-bound fully-vaccinated tourists starting November 16. 

ORMOC CITY, LEYTE: It’s one of the Philippines’ most underrated travel destinations, and the center for commerce and industry on eastern island of Leyte. It has clocked in 70.29% partial and 45.88% full vaccination rates. Ormoc Mayor Richard Gomez comforts a boy while he was being vaccinated. Ormoc kicked off its vaccination drive for children ages 12 to 17 earlier this month.

MABALACAT CITY

CALBAYOG CITY, SAMAR: The local government requires a vaccination card showing a traveller is fully vaccinated.

CLARK FREEPORT ZONE

MAASIN CITY, SOUTHERN LEYTE

MANDAUE CITY: "Bakuna Bus", a mobile vaccine clinic in Mandaue City, Philippines.

MATI, DAVAO ORIENTAL: The "Sleeping Dinosaur Island" in Mati, Davao Oriental, Philippines.

MISAMIS ORIENTAL: Only 2 new cases of COVID-19 were added in Misamis Oriental as of November 14, 2021. A view of Don Narciso, Misamis Oriental.

NAGA CITY, CAMARINES SUR

NEGROS OCCIDENTAL: Bacolod City is the capital of Negros Occidental.

NUEVA ECIJA: Nueva Ecija has procured its own COVID-19 vaccine jabs from AstraZeneca in January. Most of Nueva Ecija's land are rice fields, the province has been dubbed the “Rice Granary of the Philippines.”.

ORIENTAL MINDORO: A view of Puerto Gallera in Oriental, Mindoro.

PAMPANGA: Pampanga has posted zero COVID-19 cases in the last 2 days, with 20 villages now declared COVID-free amid a downward trend of infections.

SAN VICENTE, PALAWAN: People enjoy food and beverages at a beach bar and restaurant in El Nido, Palawan.

SORSOGON CITY: As of November 15, 2021 Sorsogon has inoculated 28% of its target population, but the local government seeks to ramp up vaccinations to hit the 80% immunisation target by end-2021. On November 9, Governor Chiz Escudero issued an executive order to ramp up the vaccination and provide incentives to barangays and municipalities to meet the target.

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT ZONE: My Ocean Adventure at Subic Bay.

ZAMBOANGA SIBUGAY: Zamboanga Sibugay, officially the Province of Zamboanga Sibugay, is a province in the Philippines located in the Zamboanga Peninsula region in Mindanao. This rotunda is one of the landmarks in its capital, Ipil.

ZAMBOANGA CITY: As of November 15, RT-PCR tests will no longer be required for fully-vaccinated Zamboanga City-bound individuals. You will be ask for your vaccination card when going through checkpoints. Not much to see though, shops still closed aside for food establishments that offer delivery, according to tweet @BenAndBensali on November 14, 2021

UPDATE: Other destinations now open (full vaccination card required) are: Bacolod City, Batangas, Bohol, Bulacan, Camarines Norte, Catbalogan City (Samar), and Dingalan (Aurora).

70% OF TOURISM WORKERS VACCINATED: The Philippines' Department of Tourism said that over 70% of workers in the Philippines' tourism sector have already completed their COVID-19 jabs as of November 10, 2021.

HOW TO GET A VACCINATION CERTIFICATE? Instead of showing a negative RT-PCR result, travelers bound for the above-mentioned destination could just show a certificate of vaccination obtained from the Department of Information and Communicatiosn Technology (DICT) portal vaxcert.doh.gov.ph. A COVID-19 vaccination drive in progress among Filipino children ages 12 to 17 in the Philippines. | A COVID-19 vaccination drive in progress among Filipino children ages 12 to 17 in the Philippines.