Trip Back to Bohol: Requirements and Lock Down

I felt a need to write an article about our travel back to my province, Bohol since I wrote an article about traveling to Cebu a few days ago.

Notice that since we are facing the pandemic right now, travel is not really recommended but it is still possible with the complete documents, anyone can go out but of course at your own risk. The number one risk is to be infected by the Corona Virus which we don't want to happen. So, let allow me share with you how we managed to travel back to Bohol amidst the pandemic.

Requirements

Just like our trip to Cebu, there are also requirements going to Bohol. Notice that these requirements may change without prior notice so if you plan to travel, you must always check with your LGU for the most updated requirement list.

During our time of travel, the requirements were as follows:

• Negative RT-PCR Results

• S-PASS

These are just two requirements but they are also tricky to obtain. It is easy and hard combined together and I will explain more of that as this article progresses.

RT-PCR Test

Prior to traveling to Cebu, since I am a person who plans a lot, I always plan everything, write them in my journal, and all that, I also had researched how we can have a free RT-PCR test in Cebu. I found a free service from Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center, other medical centers would cater swab tests for a minimum of Php 900, there are others that are more expensive, some other facilities can provide you the results in just a few hours for a whopping price of Php 5,000 to 10,000.

Of course, we don't want to pay for that huge amount when we have a free option. So I booked an appointment for a drive-thru swab test in Sotto in Cebu City.

The hospital can accommodate walk-in and drive-thru options. Since we came from Oslob and we have our private car, we decided on a drive-thru. Also, as much as possible, we don't want to get in close contact with anybody else.

We arrived earlier than our scheduled time but we were still accommodated. There was a personnel who checks the requirements, ID and our barcode then he instructed us to proceed to the next stop for the actual swab test.

The person taking the swab was in full gear, she looked like an astronaut! I have to take a photo of her but she said no pictures or videos are allowed. I was already able to take that shot though.

It only took a few seconds, she inserted the swab into both my nostrils and another swab into the very inside of my tongue. Then we were done, she said it will take 2-3 days for the results to be sent to our emails.

The Hard Part: Getting a Positive Result

Perhaps if I received a negative result like my husband's, we could have saved a lot. We could have traveled back to Bohol two days after and probably, I am already vaccinated by now but things didn't go as planned.

I received my positive results, I was quarantined for 14 days, my husband and baby as well and we had to pay for Php 4000+ for our second RT-PCR test with Redcross, this time, we went for a saliva test.

Redcross Saliva Test

In Cebu City, there are so many facility options in taking a swab test. There are even those which can cater to the saliva test. Results are mostly given within 24 hours or 2 days after depending on the facility.

Since we find swabbing a little uncomfortable now, and I already have a fear of receiving a positive result with a swab, my husband and I agreed to go for a saliva test. This one costs Php 2,000 per person. I find it very expensive but I have no choice, we must pay or else we can't go back to Bohol.

The saliva collection was done on August 4, we booked an appointment two days before that, and time slots are being taken fast! So I see that there are many individuals who are willing to pay for this!

By ten in the evening, the results came in via email and it showed I don't have COVID anymore! The result is negative!

S-PASS

I had already mentioned what an S-PASS is in the previous article, check the article here: Bohol to Cebu Travel Process During COVID-19

So, to travel back to Bohol, an approved S-Pass has to be presented to both the shipping lines as well as upon arrival at the destination.

While most towns and LGUs in the Philippines have an unrestricted label within S-Pass, Bohol has been tagged as restricted which means, we have to prepare certain documents and communicate with the person in charge in the municipal office for our requirements to be checked in order to be approved.

Looking into S-Pass and selecting our destination, it mentioned we have to submit the following data:

• RT-PCR Negative Result taken 72 hours before travel

• RT-PCR Receipt

• Valid ID

As soon as I received our negative results from Redcross, I applied for the S-Pass immediately. A few clicks and I was done. I messaged our LGU's assigned person about our application and by four early mornings the next day, she replied with a confirmation that our S-Pass request has been approved.

We printed our documents and by 6:30 AM, we headed to Argao Port.

At Argao Port with Lite Shipping

From August 6 until the 20th, Bohol Province has announced that the borders of Bohol will not be accepting any passengers except for APORs.

This was also the reason why we processed our requirements as soon as possible. We managed to get our bill of lading, got into the shipping barge, and reach Loon, Bohol after two hours.

Loon Bohol Protocols

Upon arrival, the port personnel requires each passenger to undergo the disinfection, our car was first. Someone sprayed disinfectant all over its wheels. A washing area is available too for individuals, alcohol is provided. They also prepared drinking water just in case passengers need them as it was very hot.

A form should be filled up with our temperature and destination as well as some information if we have the symptoms for COVID19.

Our S-Pass and Negative RT-PCR documents were also checked and photographed.

After this, another set of checks were done at the gate. These were from the LGU of Loon. Then we were allowed to finally go out. We arrived home after three hours.

oxo,

mommy jean of momentswithmatti

Love harder than any pain you've ever felt.