LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – The town’s tourism industry gained initial headway to recovery following the decision of the municipal inter-agency task force for the management of emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases to allow the opening of selected tourist spots for Baguio and Benguet residents.
Mayor Romeo K. Salda said 10 parks and farm destinations that passed the stringent rules and regulations will be initially be allowed to be visited by Baguio and Benguet residents.
However, he stated that the prescribed health and safety protocols, such as the mandatory wearing of face masks and shields and the observance of physical distancing, will still be strictly enforced by the authorities in close coordination with the owners of these tourist spots.
Earlier, the municipal government initially opened its various farm and parks for residents from the 16 barangays as part of the government’s efforts to gradually open the local tourism industry to revive the heavily impacted economy.
The municipal chief executive admitted that people are now worried about their life situation thus the need to allow the concerned sectors to gradually start their economic activities and allow them to earn income for their needs.
According to him, owners of tourist destinations that have not yet been allowed to operate should closely coordinate with the municipal tourism office on how to comply with community quarantine protocols that will allow them to be issued the necessary clearance for their tourist spots to be included in the list of destinations allowed to operate.
La Trinidad is the first local government in Benguet that is opening its tourist destinations for Baguio and Benguet residents following the easing up of the community quarantine guidelines crafted for the purpose.
Mayor Salda urged the owners of tourist destinations to ensure those patronizing their facilities strictly comply with the existing health and safety protocols to abate the possible surge in the number of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases.
The municipal mayor expressed optimism that the continuous easing up of the community quarantine guidelines will definitely help in reviving the heavily impacted economy that caused many residents to lose their jobs because of the lockdown.
He emphasized that one of the town’s major economic driver is tourism as the municipality gets the overflow of visitors from Baguio prior to the implementation of the Luzonwide lockdown to combat the spread of the deadly virus in the country.
By HENT
