On spot registration set for Sagada tourists
>> Thursday, March 17, 2022
PEGEW CHECKPOINT, SAGADA- Denied entry due to non prior registration
before arrival, a group of motorbike rider-tourists rest a while at Pegeo check
point. Now it’s a different story with tourists allowed to register on the spot
upon reaching the town
By
Gina Dizon
SAGADA, Mountain
Province -- Tourists who visit this popular destination north of the country
shall not anymore be denied at the town’s checkpoint just because one did not
register online two or one day before arrival.
Officials of the Sangguniang Bayan here decided opening on spot registration for tourists who intend to enter this town following an audience with innkeepers this week.
A consequent SB ordinance or resolution is awaited on this.
This to amend an earlier requirement for visitors to register online two or one day before arrival.
The online registration comes with a booking in any of DOT-LGU- accredited accommodations found in the municipality’s tourism portal ‘umali kayo. com’
Vice Mayor Felicito Dula said the open registration comes with 50% limit of the previous highest tourist arrivals in town the previous years considering Covid virus.
The town reached some 7500 arrivals in one Holy Week the past years before the pandemic.
Following the town’s opening December last year, the town’s maximum entry was earlier pegged at 500 tourist arrivals at a time and increased to 600 the next year. This meant the maximum allowed entries will stop booking once the limit capacity is reached and to be opened again when tourists check out from an accommodation.
The town has 24 accredited accommodations which increased to 56 the next year. More inns and homestays of the town’s 150 accommodations are awaited to register and get accredited
Since the town opened its doors to tourism December last year, Sagada registered nearly a thousand tourists the yuletide season and 815 arrivals during the long weekend of EDSA Day last week of February 2022.
This is a far cry from the previous 3,000 to 7,500 tourist arrivals during long weekend holidays.
Visitors increase during long weekends and holidays in this remote tourist town. Weekends are busy days including those running two to four days during holidays.
Earlier, walk - in visitors referring to those who did not reserve and in this case those who did not register on line nor book for a place to stay arrived at the town’s checkpoint at Pegeo but were denied entry.
A total of 65 tourists were not allowed to enter the main town from Pegew checkpoint last March 5.
“Aped iman nu Sagada gagara da dat aped da mapasubli, anina” (they come purposely to Sagada then denied, so sad), netizen Nieva Eiv Bagni in Sagada Reports Fecebook group commented.
From those denied was a group of motorbike riders who intended to sleep for the night in Sagada then to head home to Ilocos via Cervantes road.
Sagada is located near the municipality of Tadian where the Tadian-Cervantes road is located.
One can reach Cervantes road either via Nakawang road in nearby Besao or to Tadian-Cervantes Road via Abatan Junction.
Another denied group also wanted to take the same route. Sleep in Sagada for the night then head to Ilocos.
They said they did not know Sagada required prior registration.
Some tourists rest for the night and without tour or stay for the day for a tour.
One asked where to sleep for the night and was advised to find some booking in nearby Bontoc which has inns found along the town’s main thoroughfares.
The non-entry of tourists due to the required one day prior registration drew flack with comments from netizens of Sagada Reports Facebook Group expressing their disgust why the tourists were denied entry asking what difference it takes if one is registered online two days, one day before arrival or registration on the spot.
This along with 19 other tourists denied entry early March.
They shared a similar fate.
They did not register online at least a day before arrival them saying they were not required to register in other places they visited..
A foreigner who was denied entry asked if he could register on site at Pegeo.
Personnel assigned said the protocol is no prior registration a day before means no entry.
The months of January to February noted some 200 tourists denied entry which peaked during the long weekend February last week.
This apart from those earlier not allowed to enter during the town’s opening December last year due to non-prior registration, had no antigen/RTPCR tests or tested Covid-positive at the Pegeo hub.
A negative RTPCR or antigen test is required for tourists before entry apart from a fully vaxxed card.
For more details refer here https://umali-kayo.sagada.gov.ph/views/pages/tourist/registration
Officials of the Sangguniang Bayan here decided opening on spot registration for tourists who intend to enter this town following an audience with innkeepers this week.
A consequent SB ordinance or resolution is awaited on this.
This to amend an earlier requirement for visitors to register online two or one day before arrival.
The online registration comes with a booking in any of DOT-LGU- accredited accommodations found in the municipality’s tourism portal ‘umali kayo. com’
Vice Mayor Felicito Dula said the open registration comes with 50% limit of the previous highest tourist arrivals in town the previous years considering Covid virus.
The town reached some 7500 arrivals in one Holy Week the past years before the pandemic.
Following the town’s opening December last year, the town’s maximum entry was earlier pegged at 500 tourist arrivals at a time and increased to 600 the next year. This meant the maximum allowed entries will stop booking once the limit capacity is reached and to be opened again when tourists check out from an accommodation.
The town has 24 accredited accommodations which increased to 56 the next year. More inns and homestays of the town’s 150 accommodations are awaited to register and get accredited
Since the town opened its doors to tourism December last year, Sagada registered nearly a thousand tourists the yuletide season and 815 arrivals during the long weekend of EDSA Day last week of February 2022.
This is a far cry from the previous 3,000 to 7,500 tourist arrivals during long weekend holidays.
Visitors increase during long weekends and holidays in this remote tourist town. Weekends are busy days including those running two to four days during holidays.
Earlier, walk - in visitors referring to those who did not reserve and in this case those who did not register on line nor book for a place to stay arrived at the town’s checkpoint at Pegeo but were denied entry.
A total of 65 tourists were not allowed to enter the main town from Pegew checkpoint last March 5.
“Aped iman nu Sagada gagara da dat aped da mapasubli, anina” (they come purposely to Sagada then denied, so sad), netizen Nieva Eiv Bagni in Sagada Reports Fecebook group commented.
From those denied was a group of motorbike riders who intended to sleep for the night in Sagada then to head home to Ilocos via Cervantes road.
Sagada is located near the municipality of Tadian where the Tadian-Cervantes road is located.
One can reach Cervantes road either via Nakawang road in nearby Besao or to Tadian-Cervantes Road via Abatan Junction.
Another denied group also wanted to take the same route. Sleep in Sagada for the night then head to Ilocos.
They said they did not know Sagada required prior registration.
Some tourists rest for the night and without tour or stay for the day for a tour.
One asked where to sleep for the night and was advised to find some booking in nearby Bontoc which has inns found along the town’s main thoroughfares.
The non-entry of tourists due to the required one day prior registration drew flack with comments from netizens of Sagada Reports Facebook Group expressing their disgust why the tourists were denied entry asking what difference it takes if one is registered online two days, one day before arrival or registration on the spot.
This along with 19 other tourists denied entry early March.
They shared a similar fate.
They did not register online at least a day before arrival them saying they were not required to register in other places they visited..
A foreigner who was denied entry asked if he could register on site at Pegeo.
Personnel assigned said the protocol is no prior registration a day before means no entry.
The months of January to February noted some 200 tourists denied entry which peaked during the long weekend February last week.
This apart from those earlier not allowed to enter during the town’s opening December last year due to non-prior registration, had no antigen/RTPCR tests or tested Covid-positive at the Pegeo hub.
A negative RTPCR or antigen test is required for tourists before entry apart from a fully vaxxed card.
For more details refer here https://umali-kayo.sagada.gov.ph/views/pages/tourist/registration
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