Coron Island, one of the country’s major tourism destinations, will start accepting local tourists beginning Dec. 1, but the local government unit (LGU) will strictly enforce curfew and limited movement to help contain the spread of the dreaded novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Aside from Palawan residents, visitors across all regions aged 15 years old to 65 years old will be permitted to enter the border, may they be Filipinos or Philippine resident foreigners.
But they must first secure a negative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test result 48 to 72 hours prior to their flight.
All visitors are also required to arrange their accommodation bookings and tour packages at Department of Tourism (DOT)-accredited establishments and tour operators for safety.
The Coron Municipal Tourism Office advised guests to register at www.corontourism.ph to accomplish an online health declaration form.
“Accept the terms and conditions which can be found at Coron website and wait for the QR code. It will serve as the pass upon entry while in Coron,” it said.
At arrival, all tourists will have a health assessment at the triage area of Francisco Reyes B. Airport, commonly known as Busuanga Airport.
Symptomatic guests are required to pay P3,500 for a follow-up antigen testing, while those who tested positive upon entry will be sent to a hotel isolation room or a local government identified center in Palawan.
Only guests who have been cleared for entry can push through with their travel.
But local officials warned that wandering around the town is not allowed and limited movement will be strictly enforced as opposed during the pre-COVID phase when nightlife was allowed.
Visitors are also required to coordinate their itinerary with a front desk clerk at their hotels.
“It is important that every movement will be logged for contact tracing purposes,” it added.
Following the guidelines earlier released by the DOT, vehicles in Coron will only take in 50 percent of their original capacity and the wearing of face shield and facemask, as well as the practice of physical distancing, is necessary.
On tours, boats will have a 50 percent reduced capacity, as well as the island’s tourist landmarks. Restaurants are also encouraged to arrange dining reservations. All establishments will close at 10 p.m.
Meanwhile, if a tourist manifests COVID-19 symptoms during the visit, the patient will be sent at the Municipal Health Office for assessment. A mandatory Sofia antigen test worth P3,500 is required to be paid and the tourist will have to stay at the designated hotel for COVID-19 positives.
If the COVID-19 symptoms are severe, the patient will be sent to Culion General Sanitarium for confinement.
Stopovers are not allowed when departing Coron.
Coron, Palawan is considered an adventure paradise which is most in-demand for wreck diving, kayaking, island-hopping, snorkeling activities, among others. The island also boasts a rich marine biodiversity, white sand beaches, mangrove swamps, and turquoise crystal-clear lakes.
As of Nov. 23, the island province of Palawan only has two active cases. Eighty-six out of 88 of Coron’s COVID-19 patients have also recovered, while two have died, making the island COVID-free to date.
Commercial flights to Busuanga Airport have also resumed since Oct. 15 according to the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP).