Baguio Still To Limit Movements Of Tourists

September 15, 2020 JUST IN

BAGUIO CITY (September 15, 2020) – Though easing up restrictions to tourists starting September 22, Baguio City will still strictly monitor their movements while acknowledging the concerns of its neighboring Benguet towns protecting their territories from COVID19 virus infections.
Baguio City Tourism Officer Alloysius Mapalo is giving this assurance after
Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong earlier signed a memorandum of understanding with the officials and representatives of the different provinces and cities of Ilocos Region with Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat for the opening of the city.
This as part of the bid to revive the tourism industry that heavily suffered during the quarantines and lockdowns.
Benguet Governor Melchor Diclas earlier said although they understand and respect the decision of Baguio City,  “it should also been proper that there was a coordination with its neighboring municipalities since the city is still inside Benguet province.”   Other members of the Baguio, La Trinidad, Itogon, Sablan, Tuba and Tublay (BLISTT) should have been at least consulted, he added.
While Tuba Mayor Clarita Sal-ongan raised ‘tourists going to Baguio City will pass through her town’.
Mapalo admitted of acknowledgng the concerns prompting them to craft guidelines and policies for tourists to strictly comply.  Aside from pre-registering online, he said, there will be limited stop-overs along the way with Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur only.  According to Mapalo, there will be no stop overs in Pangasinan, La Union and especially Benguet.  “There will be no stop-overs within these areas so not to distract the daily routines in the areas,” Mapalo said.
The tourism official also said, tourists must also be booked to hotels as no one will be allowed to stay with their relatives or friends in Baguio City.  This to facilitate the strict monitoring of their movements.
Mapalo added that tourists will not go places outside Baguio City.
Artemio A. Dumlao