IATF allows Baguio to accept tourists

MANILA, Philippines — Hotels and other accommodation establishments in Baguio City have been allowed to accept leisure travelers this month even though it remains under general community quarantine or GCQ.

The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases or IATF approved the request of the Baguio City government to accept tourists in consideration of a number of confirmed hotel bookings.

“The request of Baguio City for its hotels and other establishments to accommodate travelers for leisure purposes while under GCQ classification subject to the observance of strict health protocols and contact tracing measures is granted,” IATF Resolution 98 issued on Thursday read.

Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat had earlier endorsed Baguio’s request to the IATF.

“Given Baguio City’s visitor information, registration and contract tracing system and the assurance to undertake stricter measures to make it work, we objectively endorsed the request to the IATF for guidance,” Puyat said.

She cited the city government’s protocols requiring tourists to register through its Visitors’ Information and Travel Assistance or VISITA, QR-coded tourist pass system and strict triage procedures upon arrival.

The entire Cordillera Autonomous Region, including Baguio, was placed under GCQ due to a surge in COVID-19 cases, including the more contagious UK variant.

Baguio reopened to tourists when it was placed under modified GCQ in October, starting with those from the Ilocos region. Tourists from Metro Manila, Cagayan Valley and Central Luzon were later allowed.

The city welcomed more than 19,000 tourists in December.

Quarantine protocols

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said they are confident that Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong would strictly implement quarantine protocols.

Vergeire said wearing of face masks and face shields, observing physical distancing, prohibiting mass gathering, testing and monitoring of travelers should be implemented.

Magalong drew flak after a video and photos of a party organized by events host Tim Yap last month, which the mayor and his wife attended, show guests not wearing face masks and not observing physical distancing.

The mayor resigned as contact tracing czar following the incident as he admitted health protocols were violated during the event. Malacañang said it would convince Magalong to stay.

ECQ, MECQ extended

In Kalinga, Tabuk City will remain under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) until Feb.14.

Tabuk was initially placed under ECQ from Jan. 25 to Feb. 7.

In Ilocos Sur, Gov. Ryan Luis Singson extended the modified ECQ status in Cabugao for another 10 days starting yesterday. The town has been under MECQ since Jan. 20.

Kalinga and Cabugao recorded a spike in COVID-19 cases, mostly community transmissions. –  Artemio Dumlao Raymund Catindig