ILIGAN CITY –– The Misamis Oriental government has tightened its watch over the operation of tourism facilities following reports of poor implementation of health protocols.
Provincial tourism officer Jeffrey Saclot said Gov. Vincente Yevgeny Emano himself called their attention to this issue as COVID-19 cases in the province continue to increase.
As of May 16, Misamis Oriental’s 23 municipalities and two component cities had 498 active cases.
Opol town, which lies next to Cagayan de Oro City, had the highest number of active cases at 76 and the highest number of deaths at 13.
Four weeks earlier, on April 20, there were 204 active cases in the province and 20 in Opol.
Provincial tourism officer Jeffrey Saclot said they have communicated to the local governments to closely monitor the operation of resorts in their areas, particularly pointing to the hundreds of floating cottages in the towns of Alubijid and Laguindingan.
Saclot noted that the tourist facilities in these two towns are crowd drawers but there have been reports that physical distancing in bringing tourists from the shore to the floating cottages are not followed.
Saclot said police officers have been deployed to check on the tour facilities in the province. Their monitoring report would be the basis for suspending the operation of erring establishments.
He explained that tourism enterprises are allowed to operate at half capacity as the province is under modified general community quarantine.
Opol Mayor Maximino B. Seno has ordered the suspension of operations of tourism facilitiies in the town to curb COVID-19.
Seno’s order includes internet shops and the holding of basketball games as well as cockfighting.
Opol’s resorts are among the go-to spots for Cagayan de Oro City residents during weekends. The town’s market and roadside stalls that sell freshly caught fish also draw people.
In Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon, Mayor Clive D. Quino reminded tourism establishments not to accept guests aged below 15 and above 65 to limit the crowd in these facilities.