Paying for things, staying connected and charging a phone are everyday practicalities on Siquijor. Banks are listed mainly in Siquijor town and Larena (a 2021 listing), smaller businesses may be cash-only or mobile-payment only, and the island's electricity supply came under strain in 2025. Coverage, machines and rates change, so confirm on arrival.
\nWikivoyage's Philippines guide describes a country that runs mainly on cash. It notes that in the provinces small towns may have money changers and some ATMs, or none, so small bills and coins are useful for vendors who need to make change. Canada's travel advice says ATMs are available in larger cities but may be scarce in rural areas, and to make sure to have access to cash in local currency outside larger urban areas.
\nThe Provincial Tourism Office's banks page, last updated in 2021, lists several banks, among them Landbank and PNB in Larena and Metrobank and the Development Bank of the Philippines in Siquijor town. Wikivoyage's Siquijor entry names a PNB cash machine in Larena and a Metrobank machine on the main road of Siquijor town, with older notes on which card networks they accepted. A 2023 SunStar guide mentions ATMs along the road in San Juan, and OpenStreetMap tags a bank branch with an ATM in Lazi and a cash machine in Maria (not updated by mappers since 2018). A map cannot show whether a machine is working or stocked.
\nWikivoyage adds that in rural areas the only ATMs are often those of Landbank or PNB, that withdrawal limits per transaction can be low in smaller towns, and that ATM tampering happens regularly. Canada's travel advice says card and ATM fraud occurs frequently and suggests using machines in well-lit public places or inside a bank and covering the keypad when entering a PIN.
\nOfficial advice is cautious about carrying large amounts. Canada's advice says to avoid carrying large sums of money, and the UK Foreign Office advises being alert on public transport and avoiding displaying cash or jewelry. The tourism office's reminders include not leaving valuables unattended, and its island fact sheet advises exchanging money only with an authorized money changer.
\nWikivoyage says smaller merchants are usually cash-only or use mobile payments, and that in rural areas card acceptance ranges from limited to almost non-existent. It describes mobile payments, chiefly the GCash and Maya apps, as rapidly becoming available in shops and restaurants in large cities and major tourist destinations. Both need a Philippine mobile number and an ID, and on a prepaid phone they work only with a registered SIM, which limits their usefulness for short stays.
\nAcceptance of cards, GCash and Maya varies by business. A QR code at a counter is a bonus rather than a plan, and it is worth asking before ordering or booking whether a business takes cards.
\nWikivoyage names Globe and Smart as the two major mobile networks, with TM, TNT and DITO among other providers, and says LTE and 5G are available through all providers but may be spotty outside urban areas. Coverage differs from place to place; check each operator's current coverage map before relying on a network.
\nPrepaid SIM cards must be registered under the SIM Registration Act (Republic Act 11934). For foreign tourists the law asks for a passport, proof of an address in the Philippines and a return ticket, and a SIM registered this way is valid for 30 days before it is deactivated.
\nWikivoyage's Philippines guide says most hotels offer free Wi-Fi, while broadband is much less common outside cities. A Wikivoyage note from around 2017 described Wi-Fi at the island's hotels and restaurants as generally very slow, so ask the accommodation how reliable its connection is.
\nWikipedia's table of mains electricity and Wikivoyage agree that the Philippines uses 230 V at 60 Hz, with plug types A, B and C. Wikivoyage adds that some installations also have 110 V and that outlets are a mix, and it advises travelers from 100 to 120 V countries to check that their devices accept the higher voltage. Plug adapters are sold in electronics, hardware and convenience stores.
\nElectricity on Siquijor is distributed by the Province of Siquijor Electric Cooperative (PROSIELCO), based in Larena, and comes from diesel generating plants on the island. Supply came under strain in 2025, with long rotating outages, and new generating plants were commissioned afterwards. Outages can still occur, so ask the accommodation about backup power.
\nWikivoyage notes that brownouts can happen unexpectedly and suggests asking whether a hotel has a generator.
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