Subic reopens beaches to tourists

BACK IN BUSINESS Swim pens and floaters are placed in swimming areas of All Hands Beach Resort to limit the movements of its guests to avoid virus transmission. —CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT—Beach resorts in the free port have reopened to the public with scaled-down activities as authorities eased restrictions under modified general community quarantine (MGCQ).

Swim pens and floaters were set up at All Hands Beach to limit the movements of its guests as part of its health protocols to avoid transmission of the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

The resort resumed operations on June 18 with a 50-percent capacity.

Subject to guidelines

Camayan Beach Resort started accepting guests for its hotel and day tour services but only those from areas on MGCQ, said Robert Gonzaga, president of Subic Bay Marine Exploratorium Inc. (SBMEI), the resort operator.

Gonzaga said the restaurant and bar would operate daily from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., subject to the guidelines set by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases.

The marine theme park Ocean Adventure, which is also under SBMEI, will accept group tours. But “only the encounter with our dolphins and other marine animals will be allowed in our gradual operation,” he said.

In Baguio City, the family owned Forest House restaurant bid goodbye to customers on Tuesday after announcing on Facebook that it had permanently stopped operations.

“We are grateful for the last 19 years. Each time you entered, we warmly welcomed you, and as you left, we thanked you and bid you goodbye. But this time we say our last farewell,” said the restaurant’s management. —JOANNA ROSE AGLIBOT