Palawan - Village Healthcare

Sights & Surroundings
Coron Bay: Found at the northwest of Palawan (between Busuanga and Culion islands) is known for being one of the best wreck diving locations in the world.

Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park: Located 50 km north of the city of Puerto Princesa and has recently been voted one of the new 7 Wonders of Nature.

El Nido Getaways: A 7-hour bus drive from the center, but the trip is worth it with its majestic rock formation, crystal clear blue water in the lagoons, sand beaches and island hopping is definitely one of the most awesome things that you can do. It's good to experience this during your weekend offs.

Port Barton: You can enjoy sand beaches and island hopping, local foods and more.

Puerto Princesa Quick Trip: You can visit the Islands in Honda Bay such as Cowrie islands in Puerto Princesa. Aside from that, you can also visit the Balayong Park, Bay Walk, Butterfly garden and more.

Visit Aborlan Wildlife Sanctuary: Explore the abundant natural beauty of Aborlan Wildlife Sanctuary, home to various plant and animal species. Take a guided tour to learn about the local flora and fauna and enjoy the tranquility of the surroundings.

Discover Mangrove Forests: Take a boat tour through the mangrove forests of Aborlan. Witness the unique ecosystem and learn about the importance of mangroves in coastal conservation. You may also have the opportunity to spot diverse bird species.

Enjoy Nature Trails: Take a leisurely stroll or go hiking on the nature trails in Aborlan. Experience the lush greenery, listen to the sounds of nature, and appreciate the peaceful atmosphere. It's a great way to connect with the natural surroundings.

Visit Malatgao Mangrove Ecopark: Explore the Malatgao Mangrove Ecopark and learn about the importance of mangroves in sustaining the coastal ecosystem. Take a boat ride through the mangrove forests, walk on the wooden walkways, and enjoy the serene ambiance.

Savor Waterfalls Adventure: Take an instagrammable photo with Estrella WaterFall located at Narra Palawan. Have some fun with cold waterfalls and monkeys hanging around the trees.

Try Local Delicacies: Taste the local flavors of Aborlan by trying traditional Palawan dishes. Visit local eateries or food stalls to savor specialties like "tamilok" (a woodworm delicacy), grilled seafood, and other Filipino dishes.

About the Accommodation
This center houses all participants in their programs around Palawan. It is built with many natural elements and has a tropical beach look to them! You’ll be sleeping on bunk beds (4-8 persons per room) with a shared bathroom that has cold-water showers only. There are limited laundry facilities, so expect to wash your clothes by hand, unless you’d like to use the laundry service here for a small fee.

Due to our tropical setting, WiFi service may not be what you are used to at home. It is limited and sometimes inaccessible due to weather, so having your own local SIM card and purchasing data through the GLOBE network may be your best option for staying connected consistently while you are in our local village. Please be advised that due to jellyfish in the water, it is unlikely that you will be able to swim at the beach close by the accommodation. There is an area near the river or on the other side of the village, which is about a 15 minute walk away, where you will be able to enjoy some time in the water.

All volunteers are expected to be environmentally conscious and to use all resources with restraint, especially water, paper and electricity. You will be expected to clean up after yourself, and to participate in keeping the accommodation neat and organized.

Arrival Transfer
Airport transfer is included if arriving on the Sunday before your program start on the following Monday. Pick-ups are available all day between 10:00 and 17:00 - your travel advisor can help inform us on your flight arrival information.

After passing customs at the Puerto Princesa International Airport, proceed to the arrival gate. Our representative will be waiting for you holding a sign with your name. You may need to wait for several participants to arrive before the group leaves the airport. The travel time to our center is about 90 minutes from the airport.

What to do, if...
... you are waiting at the airport / bus terminal but can’t find the person to pick you up?
Make sure you have passed customs and are at the exit as described above. If you are there already, stay where you are and wait some more. The coordinator might just have got stuck in traffic. If after waiting at least 30 minutes you still can’t find the person, try calling our transfer coordinator (phone number below). If she doesn’t answer on the first try, keep trying.

...you can’t reach the transfer coordinator on the phone.
Please send her a text message and wait at the meeting point. She might be busy and will get back to you shortly. If for some reason she doesn’t get back to you, try again.

...you don’t get an reply to your messages.
Stay at the meeting point. We will meet you there in any case.

DO NOT LEAVE THE MEETING POINT, DO NOT ATTEMPT TO TRAVEL TO OUR CENTER ON YOUR OWN.

Early/Late Arrivals
Volunteers arriving before or after the Sunday need to make their way to their accommodation on their own. We only offer pick-up transfers on the Sunday before your program begins. We discourage late arrivals as it may take longer for you to settle into your program. If arriving early/late, please make sure to let us know beforehand, preferably when making the booking.

Any emergency early/late arrivals need to be communicated to us via email [email protected] and the late arrival instructions need to be followed (see following).

Instructions: How to get to us on your own

By taxi: You can take a taxi at the airport straight to our center (address below). A ride should not take more than 90 minutes and should not cost you more than 3000 PHP. We suggest you discuss the price with the driver before starting.

***Please note that actual charges mentioned may vary. We can not be held responsible if you pay more than mentioned above.***

Departure Information
We will assist you in arranging a taxi back to the airport at the end of your stay. A taxi from our center to the airport should not cost you more than 3000 PHP.

Please note that you will need to pay the country tax which costs 550 PHP when you leave the Philippines. A terminal fee at Puerto Princesa International Airport for a domestic flight is 200 PHP.

Please note: All prices are referential, and the actual charges may vary. We cannot be held responsible if you pay more than mentioned above.

Contact Information
Transfer & Program Coordinator: Glory Rose Bumanlag (she speaks English, Filipino)
Mobile: +63 (0) 915 382 8221 Philippines
Email: [email protected]

Other Useful Contacts
In-country coordinator: Ms. Helen Grace Paderes (she speaks English, Filipino)
Contact For Emergencies
Mobile: +63 (0) 905 278 9786
E-mail:[email protected]

Emergency Numbers
117 Tourist Police (The Tourist Police are trained to assist you in English. Direct any safety concerns to them.)
16016 Fire Brigade
16911 Medical assistance

Addresses
The Green Lion Philippines, Inc.
Lapu-lapu St.,Tigman Village
Aborlan, Palawan
Philippines, 5302

During the week three meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) a day will be served on site at the volunteer accommodation. At the weekends only brunch and dinner are served. The cuisine is mainly local Philippine including lots of vegetables, meat, egg and rice. Please inform us of any dietary restrictions or intolerances during your application. However, we need to stress the point that you should not expect to eat as you normally do at home. We will do our best to see that you are well taken care of, but also as a volunteer, there is a need to be flexible and accommodating to the local food. Water, tea and coffee are always available and there is a local kiosk where you can buy and extra snacks and drinks if needed.

What to Bring
Packing List
Clothing:
Scrubs (if you are a medical professional)
Modest clothing (covers knees and shoulders)
Comfortable walking shoes, sandals, water shoes
Sun hat, fleece sweater, windproof rain jacket (depending on weather)

Documents:
Passport
Flight info, insurance, vouchers, visas, and vaccination certificates

Health & Safety:
Hand sanitizer, face masks (if required)
First-aid kit (medications, sunscreen, insect repellent, rehydration tablets)

Essentials:
Toiletries (shampoo, soap, etc.)
Day pack, small travel towel, reusable water bottle
Moneybelt, locks for bags
Personal entertainment (books, cards, music player)

Optional Items:
A small backpack or daypack for daily activities
Stethoscope (if you’re a medical professional)
Thermometer
Medical notebooks or a small journal (for note-taking)

Dress Code
Your clothing should cover your knees and shoulders while at work. Normal shoes and medical scrubs if you can bring them, otherwise long, lightweight trousers and a top that covers your shoulders.

Local SIM Card
We highly recommend buying a cheap local SIM card for your whole time in the Philippines (for your own personal safety and for easier/cheaper communication with other volunteers, staff and family back home), and especially if traveling to us by yourself this becomes especially useful. The SIM cards are extremely cheap, costing as little as $3 at the airport and even less from street vendors. The best SIM card to buy is Globe.