Stringent protocols set for Baguio City visitors

BAGUIO CITY -- Local tourists to the city could be carefully managed through the Baguio Visitors Information and Travel Advisory, (Baguio VIsITA); with the implementation of pre-registration, health check upon entry, careful itinerary monitoring and compliance to stringent health protocols.

This was part of the report given by City Tourism and Special Events Office (CTSEO) head Engr. Aloysius Mapalo during the consultation meeting with city officials, business sector, the Baguio Tourism Council and the medical community last Friday.

According to Mapalo, only Department of Tourism DOT-certified establishments are allowed to accept visitors, and violations are meted with confiscation of licenses/permits or cessation to operate.

Walk-ins and “spill-over” visitors from other hotels are not allowed in tourist-oriented establishments, as well travelers and those claiming to stay with friends/relatives are not allowed entry to the city due to difficulty in monitoring their activities, the Hotel and Restaurant Association of Baguio (HRAB) proposed stringent protocols state.

Health and safety officers equipped with emergency plans are also needed in every establishment.

During the multi-sectoral meeting, members of the medical community presented their “conservative stage” approach, of the delicate balance between tourism re-opening and medical capability.

It was stated in HRAB’s position paper that tourism-oriented establishments, immediate surroundings and all materials within be regularly disinfected and sanitized with fixtures, furnitures and equipment arranged as to required physical distancing position. Exit and entrance doors should be designated with a medical and sanitizing station nearby.

Sanitizing solutions, face masks, hand gloves, and similar protective equipment for employees should also be provided, with instructions that if flu-like symptoms are observed from visitors or employee alike, isolation should be done and referred to the physician on duty or to the nearest hospital.

To minimize movement and as precaution against the spread of Covid-19, employees must be from the city, and should be subject to regular medical check-ups.

Disciplinary action should be meted to employees found to be violating protocols.

Triage certificate as proof of approved entry to the city should be submitted upon arrival at accommodation facility.

Even with pre-registration, all details must be complete upon check-in for contact tracing purposes.

Care should be observed during movement of visitors and sanitized luggages that face-to face encounters be very minimal, with procedures given beforehand to guests to avoid surprises and misunderstanding.

For the food and beverage service, utensils and furnitures should be sanitized and food sharing is discouraged.

All minimum health and safety protocols apply to sports, recreation and fitness services; suppliers of goods and services; and even in service vehicles.

Sanitation, disinfection and ventilation measures shall also be implemented in all tourism-oriented establishments.

Additional policies deemed fit and applicable to business operations should be the ultimate goal of keeping everyone safe and avoiding the spread of the virus, the HRAB position paper also states.- juliegfianza