SAGADA, Mountain Province (PIA) -- The mountain resort town of Sagada remains closed to tourists despite the lowered community quarantine classification of the province.
Mayor James Pooten Jr clarified that even as Mountain Province is placed under Modified General Community Quarantine this month of July by the National Inter Agency Task Force, they are no yet welcoming tourists in town.
Consistent with NIATF Resolution 124-B issued on July 2, 2021 on the new protocols for the management of COVID-19, only fully vaccinated individuals or those who shall be considered fully vaccinated for COVID-19 at least two weeks after having received their second doses are allowed entry in the municipality, provided the purpose of the travel is not for leisure and tourism, Pooten said.
In Advisory No. 56 issued by the Mayor, entry of fully vaccinated individuals from GCQ and MGCQ areas shall be allowed upon presentation of a COVID-19 vaccination card duly issued by a legitimate vaccinating establishment, or certificate of quarantine completion issued by the Bureau of Quarantine. Vaccination or certificate of quarantine completion shall be sufficient alternative to any testing requirement.
Close contacts of COVID-19 cases who are fully vaccinated may undergo seven-day quarantine period provided the individual remains asymptomatic.
The Mayor stressed that the individuals allowed entry are only residents of the municipality coming back home and Authorized Persons Outside Residences (APORs) with essential travel or purpose in the municipality who have been fully vaccinated.
Tourists or other persons entering the municipality for purposes of leisure and tourism are not yet allowed and this has been emphasized in an earlier advisory issued by the Municipal IATF.
In Advisory No. 55, returning residents from outside Mountain Province who shall remain within the municipality for less than seven days shall be required to present a negative antigen taken within 24 hours from travel or RT-PCR test result taken 72 hours prior to travel.
APORs regularly crossing municipalities are advised to submit themselves to the Municipal Health Office for testing every 15 days.
Control points located in Pegeo and Madoto shall be manned from 4:00AM to 8:00PM afterwhich all persons entering the municipality shall be monitored by their respective barangay officials.
Public vehicles allowed to ferry passengers shall ensure that all their respective passengers present a negative COVID-19 test result prior to boarding.
The COVID-19 Monitoring hubs shall continue to conduct health and exposure screening to all individuals arriving in the municipality. (JDP/RMC- PIA CAR)
