Leisure travel allowed from NCR to GCQ, MGCQ areas —DOT

Some residents in the National Capital Region, which is under new COVID-19  alert level classification system, are allowed to do leisure travel to general community quarantine (GCQ) or modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) areas, the Department of Tourism said Friday.

"Under Alert Level 4, puwede nang mag-travel ang taga-NCR as long as 'yung pupuntahan nila ay MGCQ or GCQ or 'yung mga tumatanggap ng turista," Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said in a Dobol B sa News TV interview.

(NCR residents under Alert Level 4 could travel to areas that are under MGCQ or GCQ, or are accepting visitors.)

However, Puyat said there are tourist destinations that implement restrictions, including Baguio City, which only allow fully-vaccinated individuals.

"Mas mainam na i-check talaga sa LGUs kung bukas sila" (It's better to check with the LGUs if they are open to all visitors)" Puyat said.

Tourist spots like Siargao, Boracay, and La Union are already open for visitors, but with age restrictions.

Meanwhile in the NCR, Puyat said Intramuros and Rizal Park are already open, regardless of COVID-19 vaccination status, but with age restrictions.

According to Puyat, they have made a proposal to the IATF to allow those fully-vaccinated 65 years old and above to visit Intramuros.

"They are only asking for our guidelines, and hopefully this will be approved," she said.

In the new COVID-19 alert system being pilot tested by the IATF, Metro Manila is under Alert Level 4. 

Under Alert Level 4, indoor dine-in services in restaurants, including those in hotels, and eateries are allowed at a limited 10% venue/seating capacity, but will cater only to individuals fully vaccinated against COVID-19, while outdoor or al fresco dine-in services will operate at maximum of 30% venue/seating capacity regardless of vaccination status.

Puyat reported that 99% of workers in the hotel industry are already vaccinated, and 94% of workers in DOT-accredited restaurants. —LBG, GMA News