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No need for travel authority to visit Tagaytay, local gov’t says


 

Contrary to the directive of the Philippine National Police’s Joint Task Force (JTF) COVID Shield, a travel authority is not needed for tourists seeking to enter Tagaytay City, a local official said Wednesday.

According to Marisol Abdurahman’s report on “24 Oras,” Tagaytay City Administrator Greg Monreal said the local government will not require tourists to present travel passes in order to enter the city.

“‘Pag pumunta sila dito, hindi na kailangan dahil ang pinagbabasehan namin ‘yung Section 7, Item 5 noong Omnibus Guidelines ng Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF),” he said.

“Sinasabi nga po doon, ‘The movement of persons for any purpose across general community quarantine areas and also areas where community quarantine is not in place are permitted,’” he added.

The Tagaytay government said it has already sought clarification from the IATF on the matter.

In the meantime, it will continue to welcome tourists.

“Bago po kami nagbukas ay sinigurado naman po namin na lahat ng health and safety protocols ay in place at saka lahat ng guidelines na ibinababa ng national government ay sinusunod po namin,” Monreal said.

The Joint Task Force COVID Shield earlier said non-Cavite residents would need a travel authority to enter Tagaytay. 

“Ito kasing travel authority, ito ‘yung nagbibigay ng opportunity para ma-control ‘yung movement ng ating mga kababayan,” JTF COVID Shield commander Lieutenant General Guillermo Eleazar explained.

“Makakaapekto po ‘yun sa’min kasi kung taga-Cavite [ang turista], parang kalapit din lang na lugar. Ang aming mga bisita talaga, ‘yung malalayo. ‘Yun kasi ang aming target na mga customer po,” a vendor lamented.

Meanwhile, the local government said up to 16,000 tourists visited Tagaytay over the weekend.

Eighty percent of restaurants and 50 percent of big hotels in the city have already reopened for business.

“Natutuwa ng konti ang ating mga business sector dahil kahit papaano, magmula noong Taal Volcano eruption hanggang sa COVID-19 pandemic ay ngayon lang sila makakapag-umpisa ulit na mag-negosyo,” Monreal said.—Julia Mari Ornedo/LDF, GMA News

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