This Week in Northern Luzon (August 15 to 21, 2020)

The City of Baguio has planned to reopen its doors for tourism once more this September. City Tourism Officer Engr. Aloysius Mapalo said that tourists will be required to pre-register through Baguio’s online registration system VIS.I.T.A. (Visitor Information & Travel Assistance) to help the city operation center for the list of tourists who wish to visit the city. Guidelines which include tourists having a pre-booked accommodation and itinerary declaration can be found on the website. Upon entry, all tourists must undergo mandatory triage and PCR testing, which they have to shoulder. They will also have to stay in a hotel until results are released.

The Tours Operators and Hotels also have to follow specific guidelines implemented by the city. Only those with a Certificate of Authority to Operate issued by the Department of Tourism can accommodate guests. Tour Operators and hotels must require their guests to register prior to travel through Baguio VIS.I.T.A, and they must ensure that all guests follow safety protocols. However, the September target is not definite; it may still be moved depending on the situation of the pandemic. [1]

Vigan and Candon City and the towns of Magsingal and Caoayan in Ilocos Sur were placed under stricter quarantine from August 7 to 21, 2020. The Region I Inter-Agency Task Force in Emerging Infectious Diseases approved the request of Ilocos Sur Gov. Ryan Singson to put the mentioned areas under enhanced community quarantine due to the “unprecedented increase” of COVID-19 cases. The rest of the province is currently under modified general community quarantine. Ilocos Sur has recorded a total of 47 confirmed COVID-19 cases, 41 of which were recorded only for the past three weeks. [2]

Bontoc Mayor Franklin Odsey has issued a travel advisory temporarily restraining travels to and from the municipalities of Sagada and Tadian, Mountain Province starting August 10 to 14, 2020. This is to facilitate the contact tracing of primary and secondary contacts of their respective COVID-19 index cases. The advisory states that residents or any individual coming from aforementioned municipalities with Bontoc as the ultimate destination shall not be allowed entry for the same period. All APORs coming or going out to Bontoc are enjoined to register at the Border Patrol System of the municipality. The temporary travel ban to and from the said municipalities applies to all, including students. [3]

Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong issued Executive Order 118, which require all workers in the province to wear face shields. The executive order took effect immediately, and it states that the rise of COVID-19 cases in the area is seen as a result of eased restrictions due to MGCQ or modified general community quarantine.

La Trinidad Municipal Mayor Romeo Salda also issued an executive order that also requires individuals to wear face shields. The following individuals are required to wear face shields during work and are only allowed to remove their shields when they are not physically interacting with others:

1. Persons in public transportation and areas

2. Employees of both private and public offices

3. Individuals transacting at the La Trinidad trading post

4. Individuals transacting at BAPTC

5. Individuals transacting at private trading areas [4 & 5]

Go to Yoorekka for more COVID-19 updates in Northern Luzon.