Gov’t vaccinates 2,000 tourism workers in Siargao island

Tourism Secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat supervises the vaccination of tourism workers in Siargao. Image from Facebook / Siargao Tourism Assistance Center

MANILA, Philippines — In a bid to revive the local tourism in the country, the government is now vaccinating tourism workers in Siargao island in Surigao del Norte.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) on Friday said a total of 2,000 first doses of coronavirus vaccine have been delivered in the island to ramp up vaccination efforts in the country’s major tourism destinations.

“Our goal is to vaccinate 100% of our tourism workers. We urge all eligible tourism employees in Siargao to avail of the vaccines,” Tourism Secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat in a press release.

“The eventual reopening of Siargao will depend on the successful collaboration between national and local government, as well as the private sector and local community,” she added.

Puyat said the DOT is aiming to vaccinate 13,150 tourism workers in Siargao. As of August 25, 833 workers have already received their first dose of the vaccine, she added.

DOT said tourist arrivals on the island have picked up since it reopened its doors to local tourists, with 8,007 arrivals from January to August this year.

However, the imposition of an executive order from the local government restricted the entry of tourists until August 31.

DOT said Siargao is the latest stop of the department’s vaccination rollout tour, which included Bohol, Boracay, El Nido, Coron, San Vicente, Puerto Princesa City, and Pampanga.

EDV