4 Cordillera towns closed to visitors over COVID-19; Sagada still open to tourists

FOUR TOWNS in the Cordillera have been closed to tourists due to threat posed by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

Latest was the municipality of Sagada, Mountain Province which ordered suspension of all activities related to tourism within the municipality due to the threat of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) until further notice.

In Executive Order No. 7-20 issued Thursday, Sagada Mayor James Pooten Jr. said the order shall take effect immediately.

But he clarified in an interview tourists can still come to Sagada.

Pooten said the move was made “in response to the growing concern over the outbreak of COVID-19” with the recent declaration of the World Health Organization that it is a world health emergency.

The mayor added the Department of Interior and Local Government has advised all local governments to take precautionary measures to help contain the disease.

He also cited the 1987 Constitution in deciding on the suspension of eco-tourism activities.

“Whereas, the Philippine Constitution, which provides that the ‘The State shall protect and promote the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness among them,’” the mayor said.

In view of the order, all tourist spots except those that are privately owned are hereby closed.

This include all tours and packages written within the map handouts and tourist information centers such as caves, adventure trails, hanging coffins, waterfalls, among others.

Some of the private establishments not covered by the order are:

Sunrise View Hotel and Isang Wow Sunrise Viewdeck, Paog's Sunset Viewdeck, Sagada Pottery, Sagada Weaving and Masferre's Photographs

According to the Dept. of Health, the number of confirmed cases in the country remain to be three people including one death.

The first case confirmed has been discharged.

On the other hand, more than 400 are under investigation in the country due to the COVID-19.

In Kibungan , Benguet, Mayor Cesar Molitas also issued an executive order suspending the 50th Council Scout Jamboree and other tourism activities.

Molitas said Mt. Oten in Barangay Tacadan is closed to trekkers and visitors.

Mt. Panitet, the Ugid Underground River and Balbalasang National Park are the other tourist attractions in Balbalan.

Atok, also in Benguet, which is becoming popular to tourists for its Sakura gardens, had been earlier placed on lockdown.

In Kalinga, Balbalan Mayor Eric Ganayon closed the town to tourists in line with the advisory of the Departments of Health (DOH), the Interior and Local Government and Education against the holding of mass gatherings and crowd-drawing activities to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

On Monday, the provincial government of Kalinga cut short the celebration of the Bodong Festival, which was supposed to culminate with the celebration of the 25th anniversary of the province tomorrow.

Early this week, Tinglayan Mayor Sacrament Gumilab said the town, particularly Barangay Buscalan where visitors, mostly foreigners, flock to get a tattoo from artist Wang-od, is closed to tourists as a precautionary measure against the flu virus.

The Pindang Festival to be held in Mangaldan, Pangasinan next month was also postponed.

Councilor Aldrin Soriano, chairman of the municipal council’s committee on public information mass and social media, said the move was in line with the DOH advisory. He said Mayor Marilyn Lambino led local officials in conducting dialogues with various sectors about the matter. – With a report from Gina Dizon