SENIOR citizens residing in the National Capital Region and four surrounding provinces (NCR-Plus), along with other areas under general community quarantine (GCQ), may now go on vacations with their families to leisure destinations in modified GCQ areas.
In a Viber message, Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo Puyat said, “There are no age restrictions [for tourists], especially in MGCQ areas like Boracay Island. But of course, it depends on the LGU [local government unit] if it wants [to impose the age restriction].”
She made this clarification following recent pronouncements by the spokesman of the National Task Force Against Covid-19, Gen. Restituto Padilla, that senior citizens, even if fully vaccinated, were not allowed to travel to leisure destinations like Boracay, since the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) has prohibited “interzonal movements.”
On a radio program, he stressed, “This is the latest decision” by the IATF. However, IATF Resolution No. 120, clearly states, “The movement of fully vaccinated senior citizens in areas under [GCQ] and [MGCQ] shall be allowed, subject to the presentation of a duly issued Covid-19 vaccination card. Provided that no interzonal travel shall be allowed other than point-to-point travel under IATF Resolution No. 118-A s. 2021.”
Point-to-point travel means, while pit stops or stopovers are allowed for eating and personal necessities, no side trips shall be made to other tourism destinations. “So if you’re traveling from Manila to Baguio, for instance, you can stop on the way for a bite to eat, but you cannot stop and explore Pampanga, or go around Tarlac. It has to be direct, Manila to Baguio,” explained Romulo Puyat.
Point-to-point travel also applies to direct flights from say, Manila to Boracay (Caticlan), Manila to Panglao Island (Tagbilaran), among others. However, tourists still need to take an RT-PCR test and present a negative result for Covid-19, 72 hours prior to flying into the destination.
“Filipinos like to travel as a family,” stressed the DOT chief. “So [pity] the grandparents [if they] are not [included], or the kids,” she said in an earlier press conference.
This is the second time Padilla made an erroneous announcement regarding age restrictions and leisure travel, citing an IATF decision. Before Holy Week, he said minors could not travel to leisure destinations, when actually they were allowed to travel with their families. Romulo Puyat took him to task for this, for which he later apologized. (See, “Task force okays saliva test for Boracay tourists,” in the BusinessMirror, March 19, 2021.)
Guided tours still prohibited
The IATF, last Thursday, also approved the reopening of historical sites and museums in NCR-Plus, which includes Metro Manila, Bulacan, Rizal, Cavite, and Laguna. These sites and facilities, however, are only allowed to operate at 20 percent of venue capacity. Guided tours remain prohibited.
“Our historical sites and museums in the NCR-Plus area may welcome visitors following the easing of quarantine restrictions. This is part of our efforts to restart tourism and leisure activities in a safe and steady manner, and to help bring back employment. Visitors are still urged to follow the minimum health and safety standards set for historical sites and museums to prevent a possible Covid-19 outbreak,” said Romulo Puyat in a news statement.
She added, “The historical sites and museums remind us of our rich culture and history and of the heroism of those who fought for our freedom.’’ She issued the statement as Filipinos commemorated Independence Day on June 12. “Revisiting our past brings us closer together as a people and draws us closer to a future free of the perils and uncertainty brought about by the pandemic.”
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