Philippine Provinces Without Travel Requirements 2021

Philippine Provinces Without Travel Requirements 2021

Update

The numerous policy changes implemented by IATF and the local governments and the new variants of COVID 19 in the past few months made the contents of this article outdated already. Please coordinate with the LGU of the province that you plan to visit before heading there. 

Due to COVID 19, the Philippine government ceased leisure travel around the Philippines not only for foreigners but also for local tourists. Although some restrictions were eventually lifted, traveling to different provinces still is a challenge due to the numerous paperwork and certificates that one has to present at the borders of different provinces. However, there is good news...

Last February 26, 2021, the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF), approved the uniform travel protocols for all local government units (LGUs). With this new protocol, travelers are no longer required to undergo COVID-19 testing except if the LGU of the destination will still make testing a requirement prior to travel. Aside from that, travelers will no longer undergo quarantine unless they exhibit symptoms upon arrival at the LGU of destination.

Authorities will continue to strictly implement the minimum public health standards, such as physical distancing, hand hygiene, cough etiquette, and the wearing of face masks and face shields across all settings. Clinical and exposure assessment shall be strictly implemented in all ports of entry and exit while health assessment of passengers, supervised by medical doctors, shall be mandatory upon entry in the port/terminal and exit at point of destination.

Regarding documentary requirements, the travel authority issued by the Joint Task Force COVID Shield and health certificates will no longer be required. Authorized persons outside of residence (APORS) from national government agencies and their attached agencies, on the other hand, must provide their identification card, travel order, and travel itinerary. They must likewise pass symptom screening at the ports of entry and exit.

I scoured documents and checked the Facebook pages of the LGUs to identify which provinces are already open without requirements. Here's the compiled list:

Philippine Provinces Without Travel Requirements 2021

UPDATED March 11, 2021

✅COMPLIED with IATF - Tourists can enter the province without a travel pass, medical certificate, and RT PCR test but the province or city might require online registration.

❌ RESTRICTED - To enter the province you require any of the following a travel pass, medical certificate, and or RT PCR test.

❗️ LIMITED TOURISM - Tourism in the province or parts of it is limited to locals or people from the region.

❔ WAITING FOR UPDATE

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❌BATANES - non-residents still restricted

✅CAGAYAN - complied with IATF. Open

Tuguegarao - online registration only and certification from Barangay of Origin stating you are not PUI or PUM

✅ISABELA - complied with IATF. Open

❌ILOCOS NORTE - RT PCR Test Required

❌ILOCOS SUR - RT PCR Test Required

✅PANGASINAN - complied with IATF. Open. Bolinao - confirmation from DOT registered accommodation. ❌San Nicolas - non-residents restricted, RT PCR Test required

❌LA UNION - RT PCR Test Required coming from GCQ (or higher areas)

❌ZAMBALES - non-resident tourists RT PCT test upon arrival or RT PCR test result holder (w/in 48 hours)

✅IFUGAO - complied with IATF. Open. No RT PCR Test required, except persons coming from a “Hotspot Area” announced by IATF

❌ABRA - non-residents restricted, RT PCR required when entering

✅BENGUET complied with IATF. Open. Baguio City- online registration only. ❌Mt. Pulag - restricted

❌MOUNTAIN PROVINCE - RT PCR test required. Sagada - restricted for tourism

❌KALINGA - staying within 48 hrs- antigen test required, staying within 72hrs - RT PCR Test required

✅APAYAO - complied with IATF. Open. RT PCR required upon arrival only if symptomatic

✅BATAAN - complied with IATF. Open

✅TARLAC - complied with IATF. Open

✅NUEVA ECIJA - complied with IATF. Open. ❌Minalungao Park still closed

✅NUEVA VIZCAYA - complied with IATF. Open

❗️ AURORA - non-residents restricted ❗️Dingalan - open only to REGION 3 residents

✅BULACAN - complied with IATF. Open

✅RIZAL - complied with IATF. Open

✅CAVITE - complied with IATF. Open

✅BATANGAS - complied with IATF. Open. ❔Lobo - waiting for an update

✅LAGUNA - complied with IATF. Open

✅QUEZON - complied with IATF. Open. ❌Infanta, Lucban, Agdangan, Catanauan, Unisan -- Medical Cert Required. ❗️Burdeos, Jomalig, Panukulan, Polilio, Sampaloc, Pitogo, General Luna, San Francisco, Perez, Quezon —only residents allowed for tourism

❔ OCCIDENTAL MINDORO - currently being discussed by Provincial Govt, waiting for the final order

❌❔ ORIENTAL MINDORO - non-residents still restricted. Tourist entry protocols pending, waiting for an update. Puerto Galera - tourism tentative reopening March 15

✅MARINDUQUE - complied with IATF. Open

❌PALAWAN - RT PCR Test Required (Coron/PP)

❌ROMBLON - tourism restricted, waiting to reopen

✅MASBATE - complied with IATF. Open. ❌Burias Island - need a medical certificate

❔ CAMARINES NORTE - Waiting for update. Calaguas - reopening soon

✅CAMARINES SUR - complied with IATF (2week trial) but antigen testing in borders.❌Naga Airport - antigen test

❔ CATANDUANES - Waiting for Governor’s EO

✅ALBAY - complied with IATF. Open

✅SORSOGON - complied with IATF. Open

✅NORTHERN SAMAR - complied with IATF. Open

✅WESTERN SAMAR - complied with IATF. Open

✅EASTERN SAMAR - complied with IATF. Open

✅NORTHERN LEYTE - complied with IATF. Open. ❌ Tacloban - Brgy. a certificate that you are not a PUI, PUM

✅SOUTHERN LEYTE - complied with IATF. Open

❗️AKLAN -❌Boracay - RT PCR Test Required. ❗️ Rest of Aklan - Open only to Aklanons.

❗️ CAPIZ - non-residents restricted

❗️ANTIQUE - non-residents restricted

❌ ILOILO- RT PCR test upon arrival + quarantine

❗️GUIMARAS - non-residents restricted

❌NEGROS OCCIDENTAL - Bacolod City- RT PCR test required. ✅Sipalay - open

❌NEGROS ORIENTAL - Dumaguete - RT PCR Test required

❔ SIQUIJOR - waiting for an update. Tourism is expected to open on March 8 (tentative)

✅CEBU - complied with IATF. Open ❌Cebu City - RT PCR test required

❌BOHOL - RT PCR test required

❌CAMIGUIN - still closed to tourists

✅MISAMIS ORIENTAL - complied with IATF. Open. Cagayan de Oro - Register to Higala App

❌MISAMIS OCCIDENTAL - Antigen test upon arrival for incoming persons from high COVID case areas (eg Metro Manila, Cebu City)

✅DAVAO DEL NORTE - complied with IATF. Open. Samal Island - Reservation in hotel and Tourist QR Code required.

❔ LANAO DEL NORTE - Waiting for Governor’s EO

✅LANAO DEL SUR - complied with IATF. Open

✅ SURIGAO DEL SUR - complied with IATF. Open

❌ SURIGAO DEL NORTE - RT PCR test required for travelers arriving in Surigao and Siargao Airport

✅NORTH COTABATO - complied with IATF. Open

✅SOUTH COTABATO - complied with IATF. Open

✅SULTAN KUDARAT - complied with IATF. Open

✅ ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR - complied with IATF. Open.

❌ZAMBOANGA DEL NORTE - RT PCR test required

❔ZAMBOANGA SIBUGAY - Waiting for Governor’s EO

✅BASILAN - complied with IATF. Open

❌TAWI TAWI - RT PCR test required

❌SULU - RT PCR test required

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Main entry points of Mindanao:

✅Davao City - complied with IATF. Open. —online registration/QR Code

✅Cotabato City - complied with IATF. Open

❌General Santos City - RT PCR currently required. 

❌Zamboanga City - RT PCR test required

Sources: 

LGU FB Pages, Facebook posts, and local news.

Note: This article will be updated if there are changes in the requirements.