Visitors flock to Central Luzon tourist sites, sent home

MALOLOS, Philippines — Visitors at eco-tourism sites in Bulacan and Nueva Ecija were sent home by police and local officials on Sunday in compliance with the minimum health protocol set by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases.

More than 3,000 visitors flocked to the Bakas River in Barangay Matictic in Norzagaray, Bulacan as well as at the Minalungao National Park in General Tinio, Nueva Ecija for a weekend outing, according to Col. Lawrence Cajipe, Bulacan police chief.

Some visitors reportedly did not observe minimum health protocols like social distancing as they were taking a dip in the river or chatting along the riverbanks.

Police and personnel of the Bulacan 2nd Provincial Mobile Force Company were dispatched to the area to help local officials persuade the visitors to go home.

Seventy-five people caught violating the health protocol were issued provincial citation tickets.

The rest heeded the advice of the local officials and went home immediately.

Marcial Lucas, chairman of Barangay Matictic, reportedly authorized the establishment of three entrances to the river, according to Bulacan police director Valeriano de Leon.

Village officials reportedly charged P20 per person as entrance fee.

Police invited for questioning all barangay officials who facilitated the excursion.

Meanwhile, the large crowd at the Minalungao National Park was discovered by Col. Jaime Santos, Nueva Ecija police acting director, during a surprise inspection. – Ric Sapnu