This Week in Palawan (December 12 to 18, 2021)

City government employees who will get their vaccination will be rewarded with bonuses, as said by Puerto Princesa City Government Employees Association (PPCGEA) president Khraiskruzkandaf Bundal. He wanted to reward vaccinated employees rather than deny them such rewards. [1]

Recently, a news source in Palawan cited that the Palawan City Council rejected Bundal’s proposal to implement a No Vax, No Christmas Bonus policy last November 25. He clarified that the main focus is to give vaccination rewards and incentives to the employees and pass a resolution for the proper budgeting of the vaccine incentive program. Bundal clarified that it was supposed to request the City Council to fund the vaccination incentive. He also added that it would be fine if his request were disapproved.

On the other hand, Councilor Victor Oliveros said that the incentive budget is less likely to be approved unless the city government receives new revenues. Councilor Roy Vontura has also claimed that the request would implicate a domino effect. He furthered that the residents should not be solely motivated by the financial bonuses but rather for protecting themselves and their families.

On the other note, Palawan is one of the areas in the country that the national government persuades to accept walk-ins in the upcoming second round of national vaccination this December 15 to December 17. It accommodates more individuals who wish to get vaccines in all local government units.

Acting Presidential Spokesperson and Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles stated that this matter is up to the LGUs on how they would process the accommodation of the walk-in individuals as this would improve the vaccination rate through the second vaccination drive. The government appeals that it would be good for the LGUs to develop a proper system.

Nograles also cited President Duterte’s directive for LGUs to extend the average 12-hour operations until there are still people lining up for their vaccination. [2]

LGUs are also persuaded to double their efforts with house-to-house vaccinations.

Puerto Princesa Palawan is under Alert Level 2 until further notice until December 15, 2021. The whole province of Palawan is under Alert Level 2 as well.

All major Palawan destinations are still open for travelers. However, Puerto Princesa is set to reopen on December 8, 2021. [3]

The province of Palawan has updated its travel restrictions, and travelers bound for Palawan must know these flight schedules as per Philippine Airlines. Travelers from Manila bound for Puerto Princesa can only take flight PR1785/ PR2785 during Wednesdays. Travelers bound for any municipality in Palawan can take any flight.

General travel requirements are:

● a valid ID with proof of residency (for returning Palawan residents)

● company/agency ID and travel order (for authorized persons outside of residence (APOR))

● travel coordination to Incident Management Team (IMT)

● approved S-PaSS

● a StaySafe QR Code

● and transportation details for the issuance of gate passes.

For fully vaccinated returning Palawan residents:

● proof of COVID-19 vaccination

● a barangay certificate that all eligible household members are fully vaccinated

● minors 12 to17 years old with at least one dose must comply with an agreement form for a 7-day home quarantine and antigen testing.

Unvaccinated and partially vaccinated returning Palawan residents:

● a negative RT-PCR (NPS/OPS, not saliva) test result from any DOH-accredited laboratories taken within 48 hours

● 10-day quarantine at an LGU-designated hotel

● an agreement form for a 10-day hotel quarantine

● another 4-day home quarantine

● and antigen testing.

As for the travel requirements of the whole province of Palawan, fully vaccinated travelers must comply with the following:

● a negative antigen test result (specimen must be taken 24 hours before check-in)

● an approved S-PaSS

● vaccination card, and/or vaccination certificate from the VaxCert

● a travel order or letter order (for APOR)

● and an endorsement from Palawan Emergency Operations Center (for Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) personnel returning for duty).

While for individuals who are unvaccinated or partially vaccinated, the requirements are:

● negative RT-PCR test results (specimen taken 72 hours before check-in)

● an approved S-PaSS

● travel order (for APOR)

● and an endorsement from Palawan Emergency Operations Center (for AFP personnel returning for duty).

Tourists who are fully vaccinated only need to present a vaccination card and/or vaccination certificate from the VaxCert and an approved S-PaSS. As for unvaccinated tourists, requirements are a negative RT-PCR test result from any DOH-accredited laboratories (specimen taken 72 hours before check-in) and an approved S-PaSS.

In El Nido, Palawan, fully vaccinated travelers need to comply with:

● an S-PaSS via submission of a valid ID with proof of residence

● a vaccination card/certificate

● and an EOC Coordination via the official Facebook page of El Nido.

Partially vaccinated travelers or those who have only taken their first dose only are to comply with:

● an S-PaSS via submission of a negative antigen test result from any DOH-accredited laboratories accomplished within the last 72 hours before arriving in Palawan

● a valid ID with proof of residence

● a vaccination card

● Emergency Operations Center coordination

● and a mandatory home quarantine for seven days followed by an antigen test through the Municipal Health Office after seven days (traveler should use a separate room and toilet and bath during home quarantine).

For those who have not gotten even a single dose of vaccination, their S-PaSS requirement is via submission of an RT-PCR test result from any DOH-accredited laboratories accomplished within the last 72 hours before arriving in Palawan, a valid ID with proof of residence, compliance with a mandatory home quarantine for seven days followed by an antigen test through the Municipal Health Office after seven days (traveler should use a separate room and toilet and bath during home quarantine).

Tourists bound for El Nido, Palawan who are fully vaccinated shall require an S-PaSS via submission of a DOT accredited hotel booking confirmation, present round-trip tickets, and a VaxCert accomplished via https://vaxcert.doh.gov.ph or vaccination card. Unvaccinated or partially vaccinated tourists shall provide an S-PaSS via submitting a negative RT-PCR test result from any DOH-accredited laboratories conducted within the last 72 hours before arriving in Palawan, a DOT accredited hotel booking confirmation, and round-trip tickets. [4]

Last December 1, the municipality of Taytay brightened up its humble vicinities with the 30-foot Christmas Tree of Hope in the Municipal Hall Complex, symbolizing the start of the joyful celebration of the holiday season.

The lighting ceremonies were spearheaded by Mayor Christian Rodriguez, Vice Mayor Cherie Anne Rodriguez, and other government officials. The mayor extended his thanks to his constituents for their support and cooperation. The lighting of the Christmas tree serves as a symbol of hope in this time of the worldwide pandemic, as Rodriguez said.

Visit Yoorekka Magazine for more travel and COVID-19 updates and guidelines in Palawan!