Dumaguete Info Search


PCR Testing Facilities in Dumaguete

Discussion in 'COVID-19' started by Pompolino, Oct 25, 2021.

  1. Pompolino

    Pompolino DI Member Showcase Reviewer

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    Looking for information on testing facilities here in Dumaguete. I am flying out in early December and am required to have a PCR test on my arrival in Sydney, Australia which is less than 72 hours old. My flight to Sydney is via Singapore and I am trying to schedule the timing of the flight to Manila incorporating the PCR test - so looking to go and talk to them first to ensure the information can be supplied within time. Any suggestions of where?
     
  2. Notmyrealname

    Notmyrealname DI Forum Luminary Highly Rated Poster Showcase Reviewer

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    Relatives of mine found Provincial Hospital to be the cheapest (P2,700) and Provincial stuck to their promise of results early the next day (were available at 8.30 a.m.). BUT, I am told that if the result is positive it can take longer to get the result - this may be due to them double-checking. The relatives went to Provincial to collect the results as a HARD copy but you might be able to get them by email (this is something you need to check and also if an email copy is sufficient).

    The best stratagem seems to be to have the result the day before you travel (I think the 72 hours is from the date of the result and not the date of the swab being taken) and so have the swab taken 2 days before you travel. This gives a leeway if the flight is delayed - but 72 hours is a tight schedule when you are collecting the result and then going Duma > Manila > Sing > Sydney (but you will know that). If your flight from Duma is not very early morning then you might think about flying out the same day you receive your test result (but that has a risk if the test result, even if negative, is delayed).

    The Provincial takes swabs from 8 a.m. to 12 noon (so morning ONLY). My relatives did NOT have to pre-book and arrived at the hospital at 6 a.m. - they received the first numbers. Some people arrived later who had pre-booked and paid the day before, but they still had a number based on when they arrived on the day.

    This took place on October 13th and in this country old news (a few nanoseconds old) could benefit from being checked - so if you live near provincial it might be wise to go there and check.

    Good luck on your journey.
     
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  3. Notmyrealname

    Notmyrealname DI Forum Luminary Highly Rated Poster Showcase Reviewer

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    Coming back:

    (Btw @Pompolino - I just noticed you said you are leaving in December! So everything might be different by then, who knows. And now I know for sure that the 72 hours starts from the time of result and not the time of the swab.)

    Now my relatives are at the stage of coming back to Dumaguete and this is what I know:

    Stage 1: Ignore the poster below (it is still around in places) as it is out of date (and so the website does not work - and is not needed).

    Stage 2: Get the PCR test wherever you are and show it at point of entry (I think most transports will not take you anyway if you have no negative PCR to show). No S-PASS or anything else required (so my relatives were told).

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  4. Jens K

    Jens K DI Senior Member

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    Careful about the dates - apparently in the Philippines they indeed count days from the release of the result. Other countries might not, and count from „sample taken“ instead. I’m certain Germany does it that way.

    With an upcoming international flight I’d personally not take the risk of testing here. I saw it happen that a result was delayed by one day (with the company that once took samples behind Casablanca), therefore I’d do the testing in Manila instead where you have more options. With a booked outgoing intl flight, we did not need any test for the flight (PAL) DGT to MNL. That was in July.
     
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  5. Notmyrealname

    Notmyrealname DI Forum Luminary Highly Rated Poster Showcase Reviewer

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    I agree that it makes sense to be tested in Manila - but I thought no-one could board a flight without a negative RT-PCR test result. If that is allowed and there are "more options" then does that mean the person coming from elsewhere in the country is allowed out of the airport in Manila to roam around? That would not make sense if relatives going to Mindanao had to have a negative result and also for coming back to Dumaguete (bad news is that one of the two have been tested positive!). But nothing surprises me here.
     
  6. OP
    OP
    Pompolino

    Pompolino DI Member Showcase Reviewer

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    Thanks everyone for the informative posts. This is what I appreciate from this forum, that good information can be shared. At the moment Manila does not require a swab test for entry but Dumaguete does - so I will fly out a day earlier and get it done in Manila. That means a night stay in Manila and an interesting aside is that at the AirBnb place I used to stay in Manila pre COVID (in Newport, walking using Runway Manila from NAIA T3) now requires a swap test less than 72 hours old to allow entry meaning I will have to find an alternate, even as a fully vaccinated visitor. I have been using the same place for the past 5 years going there every 3 months +, until COVID and become friendly with the owner. She has 2 units in that building and is telling me that because of the strict attitude of the building management she is now insolvent as she has not been able to find any compliant tenants over the COVID period, but her mortgage and building maintenance charges continue. I feel very sorry for all those who have suffered so badly where in her case, her initiative to invest in AirBnb units years ago was incredibly sound.
     
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  7. Notmyrealname

    Notmyrealname DI Forum Luminary Highly Rated Poster Showcase Reviewer

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    And how many more? The after-shocks of the pandemic may reverberate for a long time.

    This is why in life I hover as a pessimist - no decision made today can be relied upon for tomorrow. Think the worse and tomorrow might be better - conversely, expect the best and there is very likely to be disappointment.
     
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  8. PatO

    PatO DI Forum Luminary Highly Rated Poster Showcase Reviewer Veteran Marines

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    I try to stay away from optimism and pessimism and stay level now for my sanity. The bouncing around the partial shutdowns and partial reopening was driving my madness madder.
     
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  9. Notmyrealname

    Notmyrealname DI Forum Luminary Highly Rated Poster Showcase Reviewer

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    TRUE - the very best way.
     
  10. Sedona

    Sedona DI Forum Adept

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