Palace to Metro Manila residents: Secure travel pass before going to Tagaytay

Malacañang on Thursday reminded Metro Manila residents that they need to secure a travel pass from the Philippine National Police to enter Tagaytay City, a top tourist destination in Cavite province.

The Palace backed the statement of Joint Task Force COVID Shield commander Police Lieutenant General Guillermo Eleazar, who insisted that a travel authority is necessary after the Tagaytay City government said it is no longer a requirement.

Metro Manila is currently under general community quarantine (GCQ) while Cavite is under modified general community quarantine (MGCQ).

“MGCQ to MGCQ travel, hindi kinakailangan ng travel pass but the local government unit may still impose it. GCQ to MGCQ, kinakailangan ng travel pass,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in a news conference.

“Mga taga-Metro Manila na nais pumunta ng Tagaytay, kinakailangan n’yo pong kumuha ng travel pass at bago kayo mabigyan ng travel pass ng PNP, kinakailangan mag-presinta po kayo ng medical certificate.”

The Tagaytay government earlier said it would continue to welcome tourists pending clarification from the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) on the matter.

A report on GMA News' 24Oras on Wednesday quoted Tagaytay City Administrator Greg Monreal as saying that the local government will not require tourists to present travel passes in order to enter the city.

According to Montreal, around 16,000 tourists visited Tagaytay over the weekend. He also said 80% of restaurants and 50% of big hotels in the city have already reopened for business. — RSJ, GMA News