Shuttered Caloocan resort not accredited — DOT

Closure order on Gubat sa Ciudad resort in Caloocan City. Image from Caloocan PIO

MANILA, Philippines — The shuttered Gubat sa Ciudad resort in Caloocan City has no accreditation from the Department of Tourism (DOT), the agency revealed Tuesday as they lauded the local government for its “swift and resolute action” against the errant resort, which allowed some 300 visitors to flock the area, disregarding quarantine protocols.

“Upon verification, the resort was found to be operating without DOT accreditation,” the DOT said in a statement.

The tourism department also underscored the importance of doing business with DOT-accredited establishments, saying that the accreditation “is an assurance that a tourism enterprise has complied with the minimum standards for the operation of tourism facilities and services.”

Meanwhile, the DOT hailed Caloocan City mayor Oscar Malapitan for the “swift and resolute action taken by the city government of Caloocan against [the] resort found to be violating health and safety protocols set by the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF).”

The mayor was also praised for “ordering the revocation of the establishment’s business permit and ordering the closure of the erring resort.”

Heads have rolled after the incident, with the station commander of the precinct and barangay captain with jurisdiction of the area where the resort is located being relieved and charged, respectively.

Malapitan, however, said they are not inclined to file charges against the 300 visitors as the priority was to have them swab tested and isolated.

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