OPEN FOR BUSINESS. Dahican resort in Mati City in Davao Oriental is photographed from above in this file photo provided by the City Information Office. The city is set to open most of its businesses on June 16, 2020, the day the modified general community quarantine is lifted. (Photo courtesy of Mati CIO)
DAVAO CITY – As Mati City in Davao Oriental is about to lift the modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) protocols on June 16, some 30 resorts and hotels have signified their intention to resume operations.
Ben Jason Tesiorna, Mati City information officer, said the Department of Tourism (DOT) and the City Tourism Office (CTO) gave the go-signal to release 30 certificates to operate for resorts and hotels early this week.
“Dahican Beach, along with all other tourist attractions will soon be opened to the visitors and travelers as the province has opened its borders even on weekends. However, strict health screening and monitoring will be imposed,” Tesiorna told Philippine News Agency.
Dashiel Indelible Jr., CTO head, said that not all 30 establishments would open simultaneously as some establishments have yet to comply with the minimum health and safety requirements mandated by the DOT.
Indelible said this is based on DOT Administrative Order 2020-002 that directs accommodation facilities to acquire a certificate of authority to operate from DOT after complying with several health standards.
In addition, he said tourism-related establishments are also required to comply with health and sanitary guidelines governing the operations of accommodation of the establishments.
“Before they can operate, they will undergo briefing orientation on health and safety protocol conducted by our local inter-agency task force on Covid-19 (coronavirus disease 2019),” he said.
Mati City imposed border lockdown in March following the coronavirus pandemic, leading the local tourism sector to lose an estimated PHP114 million income from March to and May.
Indelible added that before the pandemic, Mati City has an average tourist arrival of 25,438 per month with an estimated expenditure of PHP1,500 per tourist per day, translating to a monthly income of PHP38 million.
“This excludes the negative effect of the cancellation of the Pujada Bay Festival and Cityhood Day activities this month. We are hoping that the local tourism industry will recover from slump especially now that the most popular attraction of the city, Dahican Beach, is open to the public once again,” he added.
Indelible said all visitors and travelers who plan to visit Mati City "should however expect strict health screening in provincial and city borders before entering for the safety and security of the community". (PNA)
