Tourist sites to reopen in modified GCQ areas — DOT’s Puyat

The Department of Tourism (DOT) on Thursday said local tourism will be allowed to resume in areas under the modified general community quarantine (GCQ).

Interviewed on GMA Network’s Unang Hirit, Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said the department has been preparing hotels and resorts for the reopening of domestic tourism amid the pandemic.

“Marami sa ating mga tourist sites ngayon ay nasa general community quarantine (GCQ) na. Ibig sabihin nun, kapag naging modified general community [quarantine], puwede nang magbukas ang tourism,” she said.

“Ngayon pa lamang ay pine-prepare na namin 'yung mga hotels at resorts para sa ating safety protocols,” she added.

According to Puyat, the DOT has been discussing the resumption with the tourism sector for a month already. She said the department issued the guidelines to hotels and resorts on Sunday.

Aside from the tourism sector, Puyat said the DOT is also engaging the local government units into the enforcement of the health protocols in tourist sites.

Asked about the availability of group tour packages during the period, Puyat pointed out that the same health protocols will be enforced on them.

“Kung magka-modified GCQ na ang mga tourist places, ang mangyayari baka dalawa muna in a room. ‘Yung hindi puwede siksikan muna. Hindi puwedeng magsabay sa banyo. May sari-sarling sanitation kit,” she said.

According to Puyat, the DOT referred tourism workers who lost their jobs to the assistance program of the different government agencies.

She said around 500,000 workers benefited from the wage subsidy program under the Department of Finance with a total of P4.3 billion cash distribution in a single tranche.

Meanwhile, under the COVID-19 Adjustment Measures Program (CAMP) of the Department of Labor and Employment, around P50 miillion worth of cash assistance were given to affected tourism workers.

“Importante sa amin na magbukas na, at least kahit paunti-unti lang, hinay-hinay lang, ang tourism  para magkaroon na ng trabaho ang nawalan ng trabaho ngayong COVID-19,” she said.

According to its adviser, the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) recently recommended that—except from Metro Manila, Davao City, Cebu City—the rest of the country will be under modified GCQ starting June1. — Joviland Rita/RSJ, GMA News