Tagaytay open to tourists only from MGCQ areas

MANILA, Philippines — Residents of Metro Manila and other areas under general community quarantine (GCQ) who are planning to visit Tagaytay City are still required to present a travel pass.

Philippine National Police deputy chief for administration and Joint Task Force COVID shield commander Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar issued the clarification yesterday after Cavite  Gov. Juanito Victor Remulla said Tagaytay is open to tourists even without a travel pass.

“Local tourists from areas under GCQ, modified enhanced community quarantine and enhanced community quarantine are still required to secure a travel authority,” Eleazar said.

Aside from Metro Manila, Batangas and Bulacan remain under GCQ.

Bacolod City and Lanao del Sur are under MECQ.

Eleazar said only residents of areas under modified GCQ, such as Laguna, and those listed as authorized persons outside of residence or APOR can go to Tagaytay without a travel pass.

He urged local government units under GCQ to include a travel authority as among the requirements for visitors to control the movement of people.

Eleazar said applicants must also present a health certificate that they are not infected with the coronavirus disease 2019.

The government requires locally stranded individuals and those not included on the list of APORs to secure a travel pass from their place of origin. This is to ensure that receiving local government units are informed about arrivals in advance to allow them to institute health and safety measures.

“Kung tatanggalin natin ang travel authority, you can expect na napakarami na pupunta sa inyong mga border at papasok sa lugar ninyo,” he said.

In a post on Facebook on Wednesday, Remulla said Tagaytay is open to visitors from Metro Manila and other provinces.

He apologized for his earlier statement warning tourists from visiting the city, saying it was only in reaction to a directive of Eleazar.

However, Remulla stressed the need for tourists to continue to take extra precautions.

“Remember we are still under a quarantine system. We are still very much in pandemic mode,” he said.