Plaza del Norte Hotel and Convention Center in Laoag City. (Photo courtesy of the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte)
LAOAG CITY — The provincial government of Ilocos Norte is temporarily waving the rental charges it imposes on a private entity managing the Plaza del Norte Hotel and Convention Center here.
The Rivermount Hotel in Sarrat, Ilocos Norte is currently managing the government-owned hotel that is now being used as a quarantine hub for returning residents.
On Monday, members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Ilocos Norte presided by Vice Governor Cecilia Araneta-Marcos unanimously approved an ordinance suspending the rental charges for the hotel and convention center as the entire country is under a state of calamity due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) health crisis.
However, all returning residents who will be checking in at Plaza Del Norte will now be required to pay a minimal amount of PHP300 per day for staying at the hotel for a 14-day quarantine.
“To prevent the exhaustion of government funds, there is a need to charge quarantiners a minimal fee of PHP300 per day and to suspend the rental charges,” said Provincial Board member Franklin Dante Respicio, the main sponsor of the ordinance.
According to Provincial Treasurer Josephine Calajate, the daily rate for each quarantined resident at the Plaza Del Norte is pegged at PHP1,300 per day which covers three meals per day, water, electricity, and manpower service and maintenance.
The provincial, municipal, or city government where the quarantined person comes from shall contribute PHP500 each and the remaining PHP300 is shouldered by the returning resident.
Aside from the Plaza Del Norte which has 44 available rooms for quarantine purposes, there are other accredited public and privately-owned quarantine facilities in various parts of the province. Some guests who can afford to pay contribute to the amount while others who cannot are allowed to stay free of charge.
Plaza Del Norte currently has 100-percent room occupancy.
Before the Covid-19 pandemic, the privately-owned Rivermount Hotel in Sarrat, Ilocos Norte took over the management of the Plaza Del Norte Hotel and Convention Center, a provincial government property funded by the Development Bank of the Philippines in 2006.
As agreed upon, Rivermount shall pay the provincial government a fixed sum of PHP350,000 as rental fee per month during the first year of operation. The rental rate shall increase by five percent every succeeding year. (PNA)
