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Pangasinan's Hundred Islands prepares for tourists

By Hilda Austria

June 17, 2020, 7:14 pm

<p><em>PNA file photo</em></p>

PNA file photo

ALAMINOS CITY, Pangasinan – The city government is preparing for the resumption of operation at the famous Hundred Islands National Park (HINP) as the province transitions into the modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) status.
 
In a phone interview Wednesday, city tourism officer Miguel Sison said about 500 tourists will be accommodated in the HINP, or 50 percent of its original capacity, in line with the guidelines of the MGCQ.
 
“Possibly in a week, we will be opening the HINP as we are fast-tracking the guidelines as well as health protocols. We have already submitted it to Mayor Arth Bryan Celeste for his approval,” he said.
 
Sison said they will be resuming the park’s operation slowly to ensure the safety of tourists, as well as the employees.
 
“We were thinking to first accommodate local tourists from Alaminos City or (the) 1st District of Pangasinan. Then after weeks or a month, maybe to the whole province, and then to the region, eventually even to the residents from outside the region,” he said.
 
Sison added they have considered the capacity of each island as well as the boats that carry tourists and HINP’s facilities.
 
“We reduce the passenger per boat. From 16 persons for the large boat, it will only carry seven to eight persons, five to six for the medium, and at least two for the small boats,” he said.
 
Meanwhile, Sison said the city tourism office has recorded PHP25 million losses in the tourism industry in the HINP alone during the three-month quarantine due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.
 
“We also need to resume operation for the sake of those working in the tourism industry here,” he said.
 
The province of Pangasinan has been placed under MGCQ since June 16, which allows tourism industries to open at 50-percent capacity. (PNA)
 
 

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