Bagac still has few beachgoers. Photo by Ernie Esconde
BAGAC, Bataan — The local government unit here is targeting 300,000 visitors back to its beach resorts with the slow down in cases of the coronavirus disease in the mountain town adjacent to the West Philippines Sea.
Nick Ancheta, municipal administrator, said on Wednesday that they just permitted the opening of all resorts in the town known for its beautiful sandy beaches.
“Kami-meeting ko noong nakaraang linggo sa mga resorts at pinayagan na sila ni Mayor Ramil del Rosario na mag-operate kahit medyo kulang ng requirements para maka-rebound dahil dalawang taon silang walang income,” the administrator said.
Instead of being strict, Ancheta said the mayor decided to give the resort owners leeway to be able to bounce back from their losses. He said the resorts are now operating, with or without permit.
Candy Torres, Bagac tourism officer, said 40 beach resorts belonging to the Bagac Beach Inland Resort Owners Association are now operating.
“Nakakaawa naman kung hindi sila makakasabay sa takbuhan ng mga tao ngayon kaya kung may pera by September 2022 ay unti-unti na nilang kumpletuhin ang kanilang requirements,” Ancheta said.
He said that going to the beach has no restrictions. “Basta simple lang ang requirement sa bisita – magdala lang ng vaccination card. Walang mangyayari kapag ipinatupad ang masiyadong mahigpit na restrictions.”
Ancheta said the municipality has only one remaining active Covid–19 case that was zero the other day. He advised visitors and residents to still wear face masks, observe social distancing and follow health protocols.
He said the slow down in the number of Covid-19 cases was due to the massive vaccination done in the town, adding that they are now in the inoculation of children aged five to 11. The public schools in the municipality have also already started with their limited face-to-face classes.
Ancheta said that prior to the pandemic, they received close to 300,000 visitors per season.
“Ito ang target naming muling maibalik pero sa ngayon alam namin na ang mga taong nagpupuntahan sa resort ay medyo may takot pa at hindi pa gaya ng nakaraan. Pero unti-unti iyan bigyan lang ng isang season, baka hanggang December ay mag-function na,” he said.
“March na ito ang peak niyan na umaabot ng July tapos matitigil lang ng kaunti sa ulan sabak na naman ng November at December. Sapat-sapat para makabawi ang mga resort owners. Noon naman ay makikitang madami talaga ang tao at ang Bagac ay di nakakaranas ng traffic pero kapag nag-peak season, ang linya wala ka ng lalabasan dahil naka-bottle neck na sa Barangay Pag-asa at ang mga sasakyan nakalinya sa Poblacion hanggang sa bayan,” Ancheta added.
