Bohol on ‘community quarantine’ on March 16-20; tourists banned

TAGBILARAN CITY –– Just when resort owners are relying on local tourists to boost their sagging income, the provincial government has decided to put the entire province on a “community quarantine.”

Bohol Governor Arthur Yap announced on Friday that the province would be placed under “community quarantine” from March 16 to 20 to allow officials to install measures against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19.)

During the five days, tourists would not be allowed to get into Bohol although they may be allowed to leave.

“If people want to leave, they are allowed to leave.

That’s why this is not a lockdown. A lockdown means nobody comes in and nobody goes out. A lockdown means you stay in your home. You cannot go out…This is a community quarantine,” said Yap during his weekly morning program on Friday, “Tingog sa mga Bol-anon.”

He explained that they would use the four days to organize teams composed of mayors, local officials, and agencies, and civic and religious organizations to prepare for the pandemic.

Among those they would prepare were how to detect and where to bring the suspected COVID-19 patients. They also needed to secure medicines and testing kits.

Resort owners, especially on Panglao Island, Bohol’s tourism jewel, were bracing for tough times ahead especially that they were relying on local tourists to boost sales during summer months following the drop of foreign arrivals due to COVID-19.

“I would say it’s severe because we have so many cancellations and every hotel, so many cancellations … Some are claiming (that they have) 65, 70 (percent cancellations). Others have no bookings at all, said resort owner, Dr. Doloreich Dumaluan.

“In my resort alone, I have a 300-room cancellation. So I would say it is a severe one. It has affected a lot in our tourism industry in Panglao, in Bohol in particular,” he said.

But Dumaluan said he would support the governor’s order since it would be good for Bohol.

He just hoped that it would be temporary.

Yap said that since health is a primary public concern, it is within his mandate to protect the people.

“We need this (community quarantine) so we can have a direction on how to beat this problem and how to take care each of other,” Yap added./lzb