Poblacion girl fallout

It’s the end of the first week of the new year and here we are feeling like 2022 is, as others have been saying, turning out to be “2020, too.” I fervently hope it’s not. I am keeping my fingers crossed that there’s light at the end of it all.

However, the breaches in our existing quarantine measures are alarming. We all know about the infamous Poblacion girl incident. Unfortunately for her, she has become “the face” of quarantine breaches, even as we hear similar horror stories of other violators.

As I write this, the fallout from the quarantine skipping faux pas of Poblacion girl continues. On Thursday, I received a press advisory from Makati City that its officials would be closing Berjaya Makati Hotel after the Department of Tourism (DOT) revoked its accreditation and permit to operate as a “multiple use hotel”.

And officials from the Makati’s Business Permit Office did just that.

DOT’s ruling stemmed from Berjaya’s alleged failure to stop and report the quarantine violations of a returning Filipina from the US who has since earned the moniker Poblacion girl.

As Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said, Poblacion girl skipped quarantine and partied in Makati’s popular Poblacion district. Since then, several of her contacts allegedly caught COVID-19.

For violating health and safety protocols set by the IATF and DOT, Berjaya hotel was slapped a P13,200 fine and a three-month suspension order of its DOT accreditation and permit to operate “effective immediately.”

Acting on DOT’s ruling, which cited the IATF rules, Makati city officials ordered the hotel’s immediate closure.

No legal basis

However, the management of Berjaya hotel slammed the LGU’s closure order saying it has no legal basis. It argued that DOT’s order was not yet in effect since the hotel was given 15 days to appeal. It also asked for due process.

“Clearly, pending resolution of the appeal, the decision is not yet in, and could not be given any effect,” Berjaya said in a letter to Makati City on January 6.

Own negligence

Michael Camina, head of Makati City’s law department, in response to Berjaya, said the hotel should not play the aggrieved victim. Due to Berjaya’s own negligence, the welfare and safety of the community was put at grave risk, Carmina said.

“Berjaya should not skirt the issue. Its negligence has been established and admitted. Laws have been broken, and the welfare and safety of the community has been put at risk,” Camina said.

Prior to its closure, he said Berjaya was advised to coordinate with the Bureau of Quarantine for the transfer of its remaining guests to other facilities.

Nightmare

It is, indeed, very unfortunate that a single irresponsible act of skipping quarantine has turned into one giant nightmare. People are sick, businesses are suffering, and hundreds of hotel workers are now out of work.

The Philippines can’t afford to have loose quarantine rules, especially with the COVID-19 situation in the country worsening.

During an interview by medical officers of the Bureau of Quarantine, Poblacion girl said she checked in and just after 15 minutes left Berjaya Hotel unnoticed. That reflects on Berjaya Hotel’s security measures. As a quarantine facility, the hotel is duty-bound to enforce the rules to ensure that those mandated to undergo isolation actually do so.

I know this because that one time I had to go on quarantine upon arrival in Manila sometime in 2020, the staff of the hotel where I did my quarantine (not Berjaya) was really strict and stern. No, I did not try to sneak out, but I was made aware that if I did, the DOT would shut down the hotel and workers would lose their jobs.

It is for failing to do this duty as quarantine agent of the State that Berjaya finds itself in its current predicament.

One thing is clear from the Poblacion girl case. Quarantine violations cannot and should not be taken lightly, and must be dealt with appropriately so that a repeat of the same could be avoided. Who knows how many lives could be saved by just simply following health and safety protocols starting with isolation?

I feel for the hotel workers who would be affected by the suspension order, but the filing of cases is necessary. Berjaya will have to face the situation, especially with both the DOT, led by Puyat, and the Makati city government, led by Mayor Abby Binay, determined to protect the health and welfare of all stakeholders. Kudos to both lady chiefs for implementing the laws, especially critical in this time of the pandemic.

Mayor Abby Binay, I heard, has already closed down nearly a dozen bars and restaurants for various health and safety violations. Unfortunately for Berjaya, it cannot be an exemption.

Moving forward, authorities should also strictly monitor other possible violations – by individuals and quarantine establishments – so as not to endanger the lives of the greater community. We all need to do our part in battling this pandemic after all. Otherwise, 2022 will, indeed, be “2020, too” and possibly, even the years to come.

Iris Gonzales’ email address is [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @eyesgonzales. Column archives at eyesgonzales.com.