TRAVEL
#SummerGoals: Suspended
Romar Fernando
May 20, 2020
-
The enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in Metropolitan Manila and the whole of Luzon started March 16, 2020.
Though the Philippines has no official summer season, the months of March, April and May are considered dry season for the heat index on those months reaches from 40-50 degrees Celsius.
For some, the timing of the community quarantine seems to hamper all their plans for the dry season. “Summer goals suspended” for an instance.
Now, that the ECQ in Metro Manila and other provinces now under general community quarantine (GCQ) status, others are hoping that they can continue their plans.
Well, according to the rules of the Inter-agency Task Force of the national government for COVID-19 response, mass gatherings and leisure will remain suspended. On the other hand, air travel is limited for official businesses and for COVID-19 response and tourist destinations remain inaccessible for domestic and foreign tourist because of health risk.
Tourist destinations, why inaccessible?
Let us have a quick round up of some of the popular destinations in the country and their current situation amid coronavirus pandemic.
1. BORACAY ISLAND
The whole Boracay island has been distressed by the coronavirus pandemic. Historically, the island has been closed to tourism activities for six months for rehabilitation. And they still coping with the effects of closure when the coronavirus pandemic came into the Philippines.
“This is worse than the closure because back then, we knew that we will be back to normal after six months,” said Elena Brugger, president of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry-Boracay.
Boracay is the favorite spot of Koreans, Chinese tourists and tourists from Hong Kong and other neighboring countries. This is the very reason why Boracay is badly hit by the pandemic this 2020. Land, air, and sea travels have been suspended that no one can really enter the island althroughout the dry months.
Tourist arrivals in Boracay reached 2,034,599 in 2019, including 1,037,619 foreigners. From 167,070 in January this year, the number dropped to 103,834, or 37.85% lower in February.
As of May 19, The Department of Health has recorded seven cases of COVID-19 in the province of Aklan where Boracay island belongs. All lockdowns have been lifted in the whole Western Visayas region effective May 16.
2. SIARGAO ISLAND
Since March 16, the provincial government of Surigao del Norte has ordered a temporary ban on tourists both local and foreign in the height of the coronavirus pandemic. Any person is banned to enter the island whether for the purpose of leisure or business.
Governor Francisco Matugas explained that persons whose residence, domicile, or place of employment in the province and in Siargao island are allowed to enter, provided that they shall be required to present at the port of origin.
It was recorded also on March 25 that over 700 tourists remain in Siargao during the lockdown period. Aside from local tourists, the stranded tourists came from the Netherlands, Germany, the United Kingdom, Finland, France, Sweden, Belgium, the United States, Canada, Switzerland, Austria, Spain, Norway, Slovak Republic, Poland, Italy, Lithuania and Australia.
As of May 19, the province of Surigao del Norte, where Siargao is located, has recorded one active case of coronavirus disease, two other patients had recovered. The whole CARAGA region is now under GCQ effective May 16.
3. PALAWAN
Communities in the biodiversity haven in Palawan earn millions for the services they provide for all tourists coming in and out of the province. However, the tourism industry is now paralyzed because of the lockdown policies enforced in the country since March 16.
The closure hurts Palawan’s economy. The province’s income is mostly dependent on tourism activities. For an instance, tourism receipts reach PhP 83 billion pesos in 2018 alone. So, this is the time that the province should earn more. Another is in Puerto Princesa City where 400 families who work in the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, a 22,202-hectare UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its 8.2-km underground river, have lost their livelihood. “For this peak season, our collective income loss is 6 million pesos,” boat owners’ association representative Teresita Austria said.
Majority of tourists arriving in Palawan are Europeans such as citizens of Spain and France which are also severely affected of the pandemic. “Will tourists come back to Palawan after the pandemic?” They said.
As of May 19, the province of Palawan has recorded two cases of COVID-19, one has died and the other one recovered. All lockdowns have been lifted in the whole MiMaRoPa region effective May 16.
4. THE ILOCOS REGION
In 2018, Region 1 has been favored with so much tourist arrivals with 14,886,604 individuals both foreign and local tourists.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CANgLByHNeE/
The whole region has lots of sites to offer. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, these tourist destinations continue to beat because of millions of visitors per year.
Among the places is the Minor Basilica of Our Lady of Manaoag in Pangasinan which recorded approximately six million visitors in the past year. Also in Pangasinan, the Pangasinan Provincial Capitol in Lingayen attracts more tourists after being proclaimed as one of the Architectural Treasure of the Philippines. The popular Hundred Islands National Park in Alaminos town has been consistent as one of the most visited sites in the province.
Another magnet of tourists is the province of Ilocos Norte. With numerous spots such as the Bangui Windmills, the beaches and the Patapat viaduct in Pagudpud town, the city of Laoag, the church of Paoay and many more. Ilocos Sur also leads the region’s top spots with the historical sites in Vigan City, the century-old church from Tagudin town to Sinait town and the popular Baluarte zoological park.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CAVUuoMnO_3/
The La Union province is now become popular of their Urbiztondo surfing area in San Juan town.
Now, the whole region has recorded 64 confirmed cases of COVID-19: 24 active cases, 28 has recovered, and 12 has died. Of all four provinces, only Ilocos Sur has no active case of the disease. All lockdowns have been lifted in the whole Ilocos region effective May 16.
5. CEBU
Cebu is one of the most popular and in demand tourist destination in the country.
Cebu, as one of the oldest provinces in the country, offers numerous historical sites for local and foreign visitors. With centuries full of warfare, invasions and revolutions, the province has so much stories to tell.
Historical places such as the Cebu Heritage Monument, 1730 Jesuit House, Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral, the Minor Basilica of the Santo Niño, Taoist Temple, Fort San Pedro, Yap-San Diego Ancestral House and many more.
Adventures, both land, air, and sea, are popular in the province such as Crown Regency Sky experience, scuba diving, dive with whale sharks, island hopping, the lechon restaurants, botanical gardens, Tops lookout, the Taboan public market, and shops at Colon Street.
These are the stuff that cannot be experienced right now at the province of Cebu because of the 1,769 confirmed cases of COVID-19 across the province as of May 19. Cebu City alone recorded 1,559 cases. Of all the cases, only 53 have recovered so far.
The whole province of Cebu is under GCQ while Cebu City is still under modified ECQ (MECQ) and considered one of the high-risk areas in the country.
The contagious coronavirus virus disease may have suspended all our summer outings and excursions, please bear in mind that what we are doing: the community quarantines, our limited access to facilities, places and transportation, and our adherence to stay at home; only speaks about of our safety and health.
Summer goals, maybe not for now, reserve it for next summer months. We pause from our plans. Let’s help these communities to be fully healed.
Stay safe and sound!
-
COMMENTS
Related Contents
-
CAVITEX is set to raise its toll rates beginning August 21
August 16, 2023
-
Wilderness: Explore the beauty of hidden sceneries in the Philippines
July 26, 2023
-
Be mindful of these alternative routes in QC during SONA
July 19, 2023
