Tourism violators to face penalties

CEBU, Philippines —  While enjoying the tourism activities offered by the different towns and cities in Cebu province, visitors and other tourism stakeholders also need to see to it that they are following tourism guidelines and protocols to avoid being penalized.

This after the Cebu Provincial Board passed an ordinance laying down the penalties for violations of tourism guidelines and protocols set by the province while in community quarantine.

A P5,000 fine or one-year imprisonment or both, depending on the court's discretion, awaits those who violate these protocols under the Executive Order No. 20-A issued by Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia.

The order "adopts protocols and guidelines to govern tourism-related activities that promote the health and wellness of an individual, accommodation establishments and the dine-in of person in restaurants.”

The penalties will apply to those who deliberately and willfully act in violation of the measures, protocols and salient provisions of the approved ordinance, according to the Capitol news release.

The ordinance was passed during the first out-of-town session of the provincial board last Monday, September 28, 2020.

“This ordinance shall take effect immediately after its posting in three conspicuous places and publication in a newspaper of general circulation within the territorial jurisdiction of the Province of Cebu,” reads the ordinance.

Fifth district board member Red Duterte, who is the chairman of the Committee on Tourism of the Provincial Board and author of the ordinance, said the fine imposed to violators would help ensure the tourism guidelines and protocols will be followed.

“Needed gyud ni nga ordinance kay naa pud uban tourism stakeholders nato nga naglibog bitaw ngano sila nituman unya ang uban wa. So, para mausa na lang gyud, para motuman gyud tanan, mao na we put it into an ordinance,” Duterte said in a report by Sugbo News, the Capitol-run news portal.

Duterte said local government officials, including the officers and employees who violate the said measure, will be facing administrative disciplinary action.

After transitioning to modified general community quarantine in August, Cebu province has since reopened its tourism industry, setting protocols in line with the community quarantine guidelines.

Under the executive order issued by the governor, among the tourism activities allowed in Cebu province are canyoneering, island hopping, snorkeling, diving, whaleshark watching, sightseeing, zipline adventure, ATV riding, parasailing, hiking, trekking, mountaineering, and spelunking as well as visits to cultural heritage sites and museums.

Accommodation establishments, restaurants and other tourism stakeholders need to heed the guidelines set by the Capitol like letting their staff wear protective gears, regular disinfection, putting up foothpaths, using ultraviolet germicidal light , as well as observing physical distancing and following the allowable carrying capacity, among others.

All reservations for the tourism sites will be through the tourism online portal set by the Capitol.

The Cebu Provincial Tourism Task Force, including local authorities, are enjoined to follow established guidelines and protocols. — JMD (FREEMAN)