Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat. FB photograb/CTTO
BAGAC, Bataan – The Department of Tourism on Wednesday made the observation that people are getting tired of being cooped at home because of the coronavirus disease pandemic and now want to see new sceneries.
“Pagod na pagod na ang mga tao sa bahay, naghahanap na sila ng ibang tanawin kaya we are hoping na aside from Lasa Casas Filipinas de Acuzar and Mt. Samat ay may mapuntahan pang iba,” DOT Sec. Bernadette Romulo- Puyat said.
Las Casas is a well-known theme park in Bagac, Bataan while Mt. Samat in Pilar town is site of the Shrine of Valor built as a memorial to the bravery of Filipino–American soldiers during World War II.
Puyat said she knows that there are a few other tourist spots that have already re-opened in Bataan but she hoped that more will resume operation.
“But of course, we have to work with Gov. Albert Garcia kasi syempre mas alam niya ang cases sa Bataan,” the secretary said.
She said that more tourists prefer open spaces during this time of the pandemic.
“Nag–travel survey kami at 77 percent ang gusto na mag–travel kahit wala pa ang vaccine pero ang gusto nila ay open air, small groups lang and they have to make sure na may health and safety protocol in–place sa pupuntahan,” Puyat said.
She added that they have sought the permission of Bataan Gov. Albert Garcia and Las Casas owner Jerry Acuzar for inclusion of the theme park in a book being prepared by DOT.
“Hindi lang open air ang hanap ng mga tao, ang gusto nila ay pwedeng puntahan by land at iikot muna within the municipality. Basta anything by land ang gusto nilang puntahan,” Puyat said, noting that they will ensure that same health and safety protocols are enforced.
“Dito sa Bataan, we will ensure that we will enforce the same health and safety protocols kasi alam ko maraming nangangamba pa. Maraming local government units ayaw pang magbukas ng resorts. Kinakabahan baka daw makapagdala pa ng Covid-19,” the secretary said.
Puyat disclosed that she herself undertook RT-PCR test before she came to Bagac: “So, 48 hours hindi pwedeng magpunta dito kung hindi negative ang test.”
She said that about 4.7 million people in the tourism industry have been affected by the pandemic.
“We want tourism back slowly but surely para makatrabaho na mga tao but with the consent of the LGUs,” Puyat clarified. “Dapat ay makipag-ugnayan sa LGU, sa governor, sa mayor dahil sila ang mag-iimplement. Hindi namin pinipilit ang governor o mayor kasi alam nila ang cases sa lugar nila. Ang ginagawa lang namin ay kinakausap ang mayor kung ano ba ang kailangan nila para magbukas.”
She said she respected the LGUs that are strict in implementing health protocols like Governor Garcia and Bagac Mayor Ramil del Rosario who are making sure that tourism will not be a spreader of Covid–19.
Puyat was at the Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar that she said she had been planning to visit. “It is so beautiful,” she exclaimed.
The governor via zoom said their provincial tourism office was coordinating with the Department of Trade and Industry to avail of a zero-interest loan for tourist sites in Bataan to bounce back.
Garcia thanked Puyat for helping Bataan in its tourism programs. He said they are strict and extra careful in the re-opening of tourist sites in the province “to protect our citizens from the threat of Covid–19”.
“Ang ibang resorts ay hindi pa talaga nagbubukas dahil delikado pa ang sitwasyon pero ang iba naman ay in the process of completing their requirements,” the governor said.
Mayor Del Rosario said they have to be strict in the implementation of safety protocols for the sake of their residents.