Travel Restrictions for Manila, Bohol & Davao

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Author: Reekay V.

Since 2012 I’ve been traveling through various islands of the Philippines as a full-time Expat and spent 1999 living in Vietnam.

Share with me my ongoing adventures of life in the Philippines. Hopefully you find my observations helpful in your own adventures.
— Reekay

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144 comments

  1. I just binge watched maybe 40 of your videos in the last two days. Great job. Thanks for all the info.

  2. My (New) Facebook.. https://www.facebook.com/lifebeyondthesea.official
    Manila Lockdown Article.. https://www.rappler.com/nation/254101-metro-manila-placed-on-lockdown-coronavirus-outbreak
    Philippines Flight Ban.. https://www.rappler.com/nation/254274-philippines-bans-foreigners-novel-coronavirus-hit-countries
    Bohol Shutdown.. https://www.boholchronicle.com.ph/2020/03/13/breaking-yap-places-bohol-under-community-quarantine/
    Davao Situation.. https://www.mindanews.com/top-stories/2020/03/davao-city-residents-prohibited-from-going-out-but-mayor-says-no-lockdown/
    Silliman University Changes.. https://www.rappler.com/nation/250911-silliman-university-online-classes-coronavirus-threat
    Angeles City Checkpoints.. https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1096134

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    1. Question what are they doing about medical there if people believe they have the virus? In the USA they are waving coast to be tested and treated .Just curious we are from the Dumaugete area. Don’t plan on coming home until November December
      Thanks
      Peter

  3. In all this talk of domestic restrictions…some clarity about process fo r exiting at NAIA sure would be a good idea. The local government unit powers mean you could get stuck in any Manila Building or Barangay….such lockdowns have already happened in Rockwell. Wil D…calling out for a post buddy! I am trying to get out NAIA tonight.

    1. i hope you can catch a flight out. if you can’t, try getting a bus outside of manila and then see what’s available from there. clark airport will likely be included in the lockdown. you might have to catch a ferry to cebu from outside manila.

    1. @Reekay’s LifeBeyondTheSea Hope this blows over before my visa run to Davao next month. But it should lessen traffic…lol

  6. Do not fall for the hype of the Corona charade people..who stands to gain other than tyrannical governments and
    big pharma? How many people die annually from the ‘regular’ flu? IF this Corona ‘issue’ was as a true emergency,
    think how many people before our own eyes would be falling prey to it. Since the majority of us on viewing this video
    are travelers, and have observed the Global connections of Global travel..a REAL pandemic would be crazy deadly..this
    latest Corona ‘issue’ is full of agendas. Time to do your own research and don’t allow the media and tyrannical governments
    to do your thinking for you… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VI3R8UsUAlM&t=4s

    2. The virus is no longer the problem. The insane reaction to the virus is now the problem.

  8. Oh.. no … Reekay is stuck and never visited Thailand,
    I guess you’re not going having the most awful Mexican food in the world.

    2. well, the bright-side is i can find plenty of bad mexican-food in the ph. 🙂

  9. Sounds like some grey areas Henry , the way I read it , if your from a country with confirmed cases you are banned

    2. Jim I think they are not being clear to prevent the economy from crashing. They are juggling with the situation.

    3. @Reekay’s LifeBeyondTheSea it’s now a pandemic so it’s like closing the barn door after the horses left. Trump also banned travel from Europe except for the UK and Ireland. The airlines stocks depreciated the next day. The automatic circuit breaker when there is a 7-point drop was activated on Thursday the second time for the week stopping trading for 15 minutes. Airlines are already laying off people, hotels are telling people there is not enough work, one restaurant owner said she laid off 60% of her staff. Duterte announced this plan one day after Trump came up with his travel ban. The best way to deal with this is hand washing and sanitizing and educating the public. This will hurt the economy of the Philippines badly if not rescinded.

    4. @Reekay’s LifeBeyondTheSea So we really don’t know yet. This is turning into the event of our lifetime, hopefully not one that ends with the virus! I’m glad I didn’t move my trip up by a month. Even now, early May can still be iffy.

    5. no flights, buses or ferries via manila for the month. but nation-wide (for the PH).. a no-go list of countries would have been helpful in their press-release.

  10. My friend told me earlier today at General Santos city is now on lockdown from today

    1. It’s a curfew 9 pm to 4 am and travel restrictions coming into ports here in Gen San

  14. I’m booked on may. gee this Corona VIRUS is kaos worldwide and not getting better it all depends on how much worse this VIRUS gets so none knws yet better safe than sorry .Philippines is in same boat as everywer pending on wat will happen

  15. Reekay ..I appreciate u digging deeper. I am scheduled to fly into manila on April 8th. I guess I will have to wait and see.

    2. Thank U Reekay, I will do that. I have a several condos reserved in the Philippines with Airbnb from April 8th to June 30th, as that is when I was supposed to return to Seattle. Not sure how that will work out.. Thanks again, I have been watching your channel for about 2 years. Appreciate u sharing your life and adventures.

    3. I have an advance ticket from dgt to mnl for April 6th. And international flight later that night. Yep, wait and see but it doesn’t seem like it will be a successful trip.

    4. best bet is to wait it out another month, see how things look at that time.

  17. I’m hoping to get to Cebu in September. Hoping for some kick ass flight prices before then. : )

    1. I was supposed to go in June. I cancelled. I will wait and see and probably go in September or October. It depends on how serious tjis gets and how the travel restrictions are. Travel is enough of a hassle at the BEST of times let alone with all these restrictions. It must be an absolute nightmare to travel abroad right now.

  18. good, calm and clear message on whats going on. rare in those panicking times! i live in bohol and this morning the grocery store in icm was really crowded, some folks already hording……. tough times.

  19. I am coming to Bohol on the 23 April to visit my wife and daughter does that mean I can’t come

  20. Good points Reekay! That’s a big one people need to understand. If they are flying into Manila and want to go outside Manila. It’s not happening. Glad you hit on that too!

  21. good updates this might get modified , hows your plans for you guys to stay at Vietnam ?

    1. @Reekay’s LifeBeyondTheSea hopefully couple month it will be back to business as usual, im concerned if visa run do expats get quarantined and if Cebu will continue flights

    2. we’re planning on vietnam for 2021.. so a lot could calm-down by then. we’ll have to play it by ear at that time.

  22. Reekay , no Link to Davao situation either here or your Facebook. Please add. Thanks

    1. The lockdown is only in Manila at this time. One cannot go in or out of Manila starting March 15. Including locals.

  23. The panic & rumors are going wild here in Davao. My landlady said I should not leave my apartment and walk the 20 ft to her sari X2 store because I would get the virus & that the Filipino government was deporting all foreigners from the Philippines. Why? I was here before the virus was. Why would I be in more danger of getting it then a Filipino? Now my G/F walks to the main highway, takes a Jeapme to the market every morning to get supplies for her business and sends them to it, then returns home in a Jeepme. Then a few hours later goes to her place of business filled with people, for a while before, returning home after she stops at a store to buy us things. I believe if I was going to get the virus I would be more likely to get it from her than from my 20-foot walk.

    She was also told at work to buy a lot of supplies, by people eating there, because President Detente was closing down all of the malls & grocery stores tomorrow. Yea, right. She told me the stores were packed & the traffic was terrible Look at the population of the Philippines I don’t have it in front of me, & there has been 24 confirmed cases of the virus. I haven’t heard of one confirmed case of an affected ex-pat. I had to tell her not to worry I still believe we have a better chance of being struck by lightning than getting the virus all because they scared her. I had already read the articles U posted & thought they were vague at best, I am glad U are watching out for us though. Thank U very much for keeping us informed. Ron

    1. Sound like your landlady just doesn’t want you around her store…I hope you have a big smart TV with a internet connection so you can enjoy staying home..just remember that during a extended emergency people act really crazy sometimes..just because you are a different nationality they might start blaming you for their misfortune..watch your six!!

  24. Thank You Reekay for your explanation of the Quarantines taking place here in the Philippines .. I am scheduled to fly back home to the USA early morning on the 21st of Mar out of Cebu ..The airline I am scheduled to fly with is Korean Airlines .. As far as I have read the flights I am to fly on are all running .. I scheduled my return flight over 10 month ago.. If I had no concern of filing my taxes I would stay here.. How does one plan for a world pandemic ? So much of what we read or hear is conflicting , with few details..From Wesley & Neri

  25. Thanks for the info. Reekay this virus has really gotten out of hand the news channels here really got the panic going deep.Rush Limbough has a 8 or 9 minute video compareing the FACTS of the swine flu 10 yrs ago to this corona virus interesting I know this is serious but its a good one to watch. Thanks for the info.

    1. the media can’t resist sensationalizing events like these. and it’s usually a lot worse when a republican is U.S. president. then it becomes even more political.

    2. Rush said a somewhat recent hurricane about to hit Florida was way over-reported and not as bad as media claimed. It was some attenmpt by global warming people to push gobal warming agenda But when the order came to evacuate Rush was the first one out. Funny how he does not even believe his own advice.

  26. I just knew you would have the facts rather than the hyperbole, thanks Reekay, so my take is that even if I can fly into Manila I would not be able to fly onto Leyte, hoping this is resolved by end of May when I am booked to visit 🙂 stay safe Reekay

  27. Thanks for the info. Philippine Airlines will start a new non-stop route to and from Cebu City to LAX starting May 2, 2020

    1. That’s interesting as I was going to fly to Mactan Island first on my trip. If LAX can be my stop before Cebu, that’ll be great.

  29. Huh only 50 people infected in the whole of the Philippines and then everything goes in lockdown. Something is not right here lolz

    1. You know that confirmed cases are just the confirmed cases?… a lot of people are asymptomatic and spreading the virus… we are densely populated with a healthcare that may not be able to cope.

    2. Paul. it is a smart President that is trying to prevent a disaster from a large number of patients. The Philippines is still a developing country and has limited medical facilities. This is why he decided on the early lockdown.

  30. Fear mongering mass media,they always sell fear instead of positivity and hope.

  31. We’re supposed to leave Ohio on the 29th heading to Manila. I’m not sure what’s going to happen at this point. We already have hotels and resorts booked. Wait and see I guess.

  32. I’ve been put in home quarantine for 14 days as the Governments local Barangay nurse had heard I just arrived in the jungle area where I am living.

    She paid me a visit today, asked me personal questions then took my temperature.

    Then, told me I cannot leave my homes property for 14 days.

    Interesting times these are….. had I not flown home on Monday as I had, I would be struck in Manila. Costs will be astronomical for those now stuck in Manila.

    All buses out of Manila to the Bicol region have been halted.

    Stay safe everyone! I will have

    1. Richard Howe Very good response, thank you! Yes if one other person here gets it they could say it’s from me…. I’ve not left the house since arriving…so far I have zero symptoms…..

    2. Watch your six!! People are going to start looking for someone to blame for their misfortune..mob mentality.. maybe you should have an escape plan?

  35. im not comin to phils till november so keep me posted mate…comin from uk….so i normaly go uk hong kong manila
    or uk abu dab cebu….so il just wait till sept to get info from you then reekay..great vid an info

  36. It goes without saying that traveling (especially international) should be avoided if possible. Although the cheap airfare is tempting, I’ll be holding off on any vacations

  37. Iam in manila iam flying to Korea to Detroit to Dallas texas then to corpus christi next week.

  39. Many credible authorities here in the US estimate through case modeling, that the US may have a huge spike similar to that in Italy and we seek to be in a parallel path, 2 weeks behind their same curve. The numbers in the US are artificially low, dur to lack of testing available. (due in large part from errors and or management in the current administration)
    SO THE BAN coming, will almost certainly exclude Americans from coming in very soon)

    1. My sentiments exactly. I said the same thing to a few friends. When more tests happen, the numbers will go up.

    2. I suppose every extreme liberal in the USA will blame the whole coronavirus pandemic on the Trump administration. And the press at CNN will be showing around the clock fake news, since it’s an election year. Lol….what a joke!

  40. thanks for the update. The shelves were looking a little bare when I went to the grocery store yesterday here in the US (Delaware). I don’t have a flight booked yet, but the idea of possibly being trapped in the US doesn’t sit well with me.

  41. I watched the news.Phil.gov’t.officials will assess the situation on a daily basis if not by the hr.,so keep updated on gov’t.website about travel restrictions in the country..

  43. Great heads up. Guess if there is one bright spot in all this, universities are setting up online learning, which will be a heck of a lot cheaper than their multimillion dollar mega-campus buildings and administrators salaries. Maybe we can finally say goodbye to sky high student debt.

  47. Thanks for the info Reekay , I hear America is in bad shape my people telling me not to come back to America yet they saying president trump talking about closing the borders tell all this is cleared up.

  49. Thanks for the information..watch your six.. during and extended emergency people start looking for a scapegoat to blame for their misfortune and sometimes mob mentality takes over.. maybe you better have an escape plan just in case..

  50. According to WHO, dogs will not need to be quarantined. 

    They can not contract or carry the Corona virus.

    So to clarify . . . WHO let the dogs out.

  51. doesn’t make sense to close Bohol for 4 days only. Whats the point in relation with the Virus? 2 weeks incubation period and an other 2 weeks to check if there are cases. After they are sure the Virus is isolated, they should close the island down for good to protect the people there. That will not happen anyway because tourist based businesses need the customers . So the whole thing make no sense at all.

  52. Beware the Ides of March. Has anyone read the part where the vast majority of infected people recover in 2 or 3 days after suffering a fever for a day and a slight cough? This world wide insanity is going to kill more people than this flu.

    Thanks for keeping us posted.

  54. My trip to Dumaguete late May is in real jeopardy coz of the Manila lockdown in yesterday’s news.

  56. Hmmm, the entire metropolitan area of Manila? If just Manila proper, then I would wonder how you control Quezon City, Pasay, Makati, etc.

  57. Hi Henry, I am in the international traveler scenario where I enter Manila and take a domestic flight to Dumaguete. I am booked to fly May 28 from SFO. If you can provide regular updates for the next few months, it would be much appreciated. I also appreciate your purpose to make sense in all the madness. 🙂

  60. How about if somebody wants to travel from america to philippines,are they allowed?

  61. Does the ban apply if you are flying in to Manila April 7 in transit to catch a flight to the states?

  62. Great coverage Buddy. As you know when we meet in Davao I had a bad cough, I have had this for over 20 years and is and industrial related chest infection, due to working in the beef slaughter industry in New Zealand. It got worse like 2 years ago in Canada and now in the Philippines has be come cronic due to the humidity. I get the odd strange look on a jeepny if I start to cough, and need to carry paper towel all the time. I will have this for the rest of my life as there is no cure. I am now concerned about Corona as I am at high risk due to the condition of my chest but live in hope. As far as I know there have been NO confirmed cases in Davao, and most people are still not wearing masks etc, But this may change over night.

    1. lately, any cough or sneeze and you get the double-take from everyone around you. :/

  63. My flight is to Cebu from USA next weekend. I’m curious about the clarification as well. I’m seeing these conflicting reports and really don’t know what is what. I’ve searched American embassy in Philippines website and the Philippines embassy in USA website and neither say anything. But if you go to the Philippines embassy website for London England it clearly states that the U.K and Ireland ARE now included in the no travel restrictions

  66. i was supposed to land in Cebu City at 8:ooam March 14. I got all this information about the lock down in Manila yesterday from my fiance”, who lives there. My return flight to Canada from Cebu City departs on April 11 and has a stop In Manila. I would never make it back home under these restrictions. I decided to stay in Canada and hopefully get my ticket refunded from Expedia. I have yet to contact Expedia due to technical issues. Also trying to get a refund from Airbnb. What a mess! Pray for the people! Thank you for your update Reekay!

    1. I am from Vancouver I was going to go to Manila and Bohol in June. I cancelled. Luckily my employer is very flexible with vacation time so I have no problem going in the Fall instead. Best to wait and see. Also returning to Canada is about to get alot more difficult as mandatory 14 day quarantine is now in effect for anyone entering Canada including Canadians returning to Canada. Trudeau is about to close airports in Canada, only keeping a select few open and have intense screening.

  67. 4 day Bohol Quaratine maybe predicated by 4 day incubation period of COVID-19, trying to get a handle on the existing populations exposure level.

  73. Eva Air has canceled most of the flights from Cebu. My flight on the 27 of March is still on and I am hoping that its a go. I have tried to contact Eva Air using the only Customer service Number and all I get is high volume of calls call back later. I have tried for hours but no luck.I have to say that EVA AIR SUCKS. If you have a problem , They dont want to talk to you. No email address either. EVA AIR is the worst airline in Asia after they have your Money ,They wont help you in case any problems.

  74. Thank you for the report, Reekay. From what I have read, no one is allwoed of Manila, and only rural areas are allowed to go into Manila if they work there

  75. A neighbor of mine in Butuan city, went back to the states. Coincidentally he live in Washington the state. He said he can not leave his state, he was suppose to be back this month.

  78. Yes, reality has slowly (or abruptly), started to become more serious with time. Personally, I would advise all persons to stay where you live and not take any chances unless you are a foreigner and need to leave right away. Here in America, things are getting worse with airlines cruise lines, and more school getting closed by the day. Plus more cases of people getting this virus! STAY SAFE!

  79. Nice one. Very detailed and informative. But I need the update of Cebu if it will restrict travel in or out international flights.

  80. This article will be outdated in a few days…There is no real pandemic but they will continue to push it.

  81. Henry…
    Did u see video about pv posted by cat balina
    2 weeks ago? He had his gall bladder taken out and his pancreas is f’ed up . close to death. Guess its karma

    1. @Reekay’s LifeBeyondTheSea if he was still in ph he would really be a screwed pooch

    2. i saw the video. i really don’t think pv is as bad off as he pretends to be with his illness. i think he’s actually glad to be in a clean bed for a change.

  82. Hey Reekay, and for those of you that use Airbnb, here is the latest information on refunds. I Myself had accommodations reserved and paid for from April 9th until June 30th in various cities in the Philippines starting with a few stays in Metro Manila. With a flight from Seattle to Manila April 8th . Consequently at this time I am banned from entering the Philippines by air travel as a foreigner from the Seattle area.

    Good luck to all and be safe and healthy

    https://www.airbnb.com/help/article/2701/extenuating-circumstances-policy-and-the-coronavirus-covid19
    Extenuating circumstances policy and the coronavirus (COVID-19)

    Updated March 14, 2020
    On March 11, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak of coronavirus, known as COVID-19, to be a global pandemic. We are providing the following coverage for COVID-19 under our extenuating circumstances policy to help protect our community and provide peace of mind.
    Summary
    Existing reservations made on or before March 14, 2020 for stays and Airbnb Experiences with a check-in date of April 14, 2020, or earlier, and with at least one night occurring between March 14, 2020, and April 14, 2020, are covered. Guests who cancel will receive a full refund, and hosts will be able to cancel without charge or impact to their Superhost status. The host’s cancellation policy will apply as usual to reservations made after March 14, 2020, and to existing reservations made on or before March 14, 2020 with check-in dates after April 14, 2020.
    Domestic reservations in mainland China are covered under the existing mainland China extenuating circumstances for COVID-19 statement. Luxe or Luxury Retreats reservations are covered under the Luxe Guest Refund Policy.
    What reservations are covered
    Reservations made on or before March 14, 2020
    Existing reservations for stays and Airbnb Experiences with a check-in date of April 14, 2020, or earlier, and with at least one night occurring between March 14, 2020 and April 14, 2020 are covered. This means that guests who cancel will receive a full refund, hosts will be able to cancel without charge or impact to their Superhost status, and Airbnb will refund all service fees.
    Existing reservations for stays and Airbnb Experiences with a check-in date after April 14, 2020 will not be covered under our extenuating circumstances policy except where the guest or host has contracted COVID-19. The host’s cancellation policy will apply as usual.
    Reservations made after March 14, 2020
    Reservations for stays and Airbnb Experiences made after March 14, 2020 will not be covered under our extenuating circumstances policy except where the guest or host has contracted COVID-19. The host’s cancellation policy will apply as usual.
    Please remember to carefully review the listing’s cancellation policy set by the host when booking and consider choosing an option that provides flexibility.
    How it works
    If your reservation is covered, it will be marked as such on the reservation details page (found in Trips if you’re a traveler, or in your hosting dashboard if you’re a host). If you cancel a reservation marked as eligible, guests will receive a full refund, and there will be no impact to hosts’ Superhost status. You don’t need to contact us in this case. More about how refunds work.
    For travelers, if your reservation is not covered, your host’s cancellation policy will apply as usual. You can reach out to your host to discuss cancellation and refunds.

  84. Too little too late, the virus is already there, and it is already being community spread. 14 days from now you will know a little more about how bad it’s going to be.

  85. Rappler is not a reliable media…they are always negative with the Duterte Administration…They are always twisting and only making narratives that are false information…..DO NOT BELIEVE RAPPLER….

  87. So confusing. Glad to watch your channel . Was planing to go april 18. Everyone i asked seems lost. I will keep checking your channel. Pls give updates. Thanka reekay.

  88. They finally released clarification on the expanded travel ban. Only applies to Italy and Iran. President Duterte’s original announcement caused a lot of confusion. There’s a story on Rappler.
    “The Philippines on Saturday, March 14, modified a blanket travel ban earlier imposed on countries with confirmed localized transmissions of the novel coronavirus, restricting it to travelers coming from Iran and Italy.
    This backtracks from President Rodrigo Duterte’s earlier announcement that the Philippines would be banning travelers coming from all countries with confirmed localized transmissions of the novel coronavirus.
    Duterte’s statement caused confusion among countries and prompted some Philippine embassies to issue advisories on the sweeping restriction.”

  89. Hey Henry… Cebu just mirrored Manila actions… lockdown Mar 14 to Apr 14… I guess my trip is delayed another 30 days.

  90. R e k, what software do you use to record your video and stick it up in the corner while you are displaying your desktop?

  91. Better just not to travel at this time. The Philippines will still be there when all this panic is over.

  92. Perhaps Bohol quarantine for four day only means mostly like economic reasons and there was not many Chinese and koren and foreigners tourist.

  93. It’s official here all flights are canceled in an out of the country and all domestic travel. I have a friend that left for work but is stranded in Pasay City. No way out. I rebooked two flights already now I am stranded here till the resumption of service. I hope to get a free extension

  94. Here is the thing the bulk of the domestic infection are contained. We have one on Mindanao from an OFW you would think they would keep commerce open for resupply in the south. Should be interesting in two weeks when imported necessities start running out

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