IATF allows NCR Plus travelers to MGCQ areas for tourism purposes – DOT chief

Tourism Secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat answers question of the media at the Baguio Country Club in Baguio City. Romulo-Puyat visited the city for three days to inspect several tourist sites in the Summer Capital of the Philippines in anticipation of the resumption of tourism in the city. Photo courtesy Department of Tourism

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — People in the so-called NCR Plus may now visit modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) areas for tourism purposes, the Department of Tourism (DOT) announced here Tuesday.

The NCR Plus consists of Metro Manila and adjacent provinces Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal.

“Masayang-masaya na kami na finally in-approve na ng IATF, DOH at ating mga health experts na pwede na mag-travel ang taga NCR Plus sa iba’t ibang tourist destinations,” Tourism Secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat told reporters, following her meeting with the Interagency Taskforce on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) on Monday.

(We are so happy that finally the IATF, DOH, and our health experts approved that people from NCR Plus can already travel to various tourist destinations.)

But the DOT chief said the local government units (LGUs) still have the final word if they would allow tourism in their areas.

“Syempre ito pa rin ay sang-ayon kung papayag pa din ang mga LGU at tourist destinations na makakatanggap na sila ng turista pero masayang-masaya kami na finally makaka-restart na ulit ang tourism,” Romulo-Puyat said.

(Of course, this still depends on the LGU and tourist destinations if they already want to welcome tourists but we are very happy that finally, tourism can now restart.)

KGA