By Joseph B.A. Marzan
Igabaras, Iloilo Mayor Jaime Esmeralda on Sunday confirmed the town’s reopening for tourists last April 22, citing the economic woes caused by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) to residents.
The southern Iloilo town, which is home to popular tourist destinations in the province such as Mt. Napulak, Nadsadjan and Guiritsan Falls, and Brgy. Igcabugao, closed from April 7 to 20 due to rising positive cases of COVID-19 in the town.
Esmeralda told Aksyon Radyo Iloilo on Sunday that there was no confirmed clustering or local transmission of the almost 50 positive COVID-19 cases in the town.
He added that the lowering trend in cases in the town encouraged residents and inland resort owners to push for the reopening to tourists.
He pointed out that their local government has already included improvements to tourism sites in their local budget, which would pave the way for building of cottages, shower rooms, and comfort rooms.
He added that they will begin the bidding for these projects by the end of April.
“Many resort owners and barangay residents have requested to reopen because our people are getting poorer. As we know, for the past few months, [tourism] has given ease economically to the people here because many tourists are coming. We just closed down because almost 50 persons became positive for COVID-19. So far, we didn’t know if there was local transmission, but in our view, there is a huge possibility that there wasn’t,” Esmeralda said.
He said that guidelines on reopening are based on executive orders (EO) issued by Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor, Jr.
Sections 10(a)(i) and 10(e) of the latest EO by the governor, EO No. 183-J issued last January 30, provide for a limited 50 percent capacity in tourism sites and resorts.
The EO provisions also state that only immediate family or household members shall be allowed in tourism sites or resorts, provided that there would be monitoring by health and safety officers by establishments.
The mayor also issued EO No. 04-17 series of 2021 on April 22, with the following guidelines in place for tourism activities:
– Trekking, hiking, adventure, and other tourism activities are allowed provided that tourists must register at the town’s Tourism Assistance Center, and observe strict health protocols;
– Inland resorts are allowed only to cater 30 percent of their total capacity, and must have footbaths soaked in disinfectant solution, provide rubbing alcohol, and have body temperatures checked, at their respective entrances; and
– Limitations on capacity in eco-tourism sites:
* Nadsadjan Falls – 50 tourists per day;
* Mt. Napulak – 75 tourists per day;
* Brgy. Igcabugao – 75 tourists per day, per destination;
* Other destinations – 50 tourists per day.
While town officials caught non-family members travelling together in groups, Esmeralda said officials gave consideration to them “so that they would not have to be sent away.”
Instead, each tourist must observe their own “bubble” by practicing strict physical distancing at sites or resorts.
Esmeralda also clarified that a negative COVID-19 result via Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) testing was not required, “but it would be much better if [tourists] did have them”.
“We are also taking care of our own people, and if it happens, but we hope that it doesn’t, that there will be positive cases because of tourists. That would be a huge blow, that is why we are very careful and very strict with our health protocol in our town,” he said.
He addressed both tourists and residents to exercise carefulness in visiting or roaming around the town, so as to protect themselves and the communities there.
“Be responsible enough to follow minimum health protocols. Please protect us also, not only yourselves. To our people, now that we have reopened, let us be vigilant and be careful with our tourists. Just follow all directives coming from the municipal health office because we do not have control there,” the mayor said.
