SAN JUAN, Abra – The Turismo Isulong Mo Party-list group lauded the decision of the inter-agency task force for emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases to place the National Capital Region (NCR) and some thirty nine areas Alert Level I that will pave the way for the gradual and safe revival of the country’s heavily impacted economy.
Marco Bautista, the party-list group’s second nominee, pointed out it has always been their position that it is high time to ease up on the existing restrictions following the significant decrease in Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases to allow people to move around and contribute in beefing up the ravaged economy over the past 2 years.
He stated that allowing the people to move to the different tourist destinations in the country will definitely help in the creation of jobs and reviving economic activities, especially in the various tourist destinations which are frequented by travelers.
The Turismo Isulong Mo nominee claimed it is better to start with the opening of domestic tourism so that people can explore the tourist attractions in the country and spend their money in local sites for the gradual and safe revival of the economy.
According to him, the tourism industry has been one of the heavily impacted sectors where over 5 million individuals lost their jobs aside from those relying on tourism-related activities as the major source of their income, thus, the decision of the government on easing up on the prevailing restrictions will definitely help in bringing back the vibrance of economic activities.
The Turismo Isulong Mo Party-list is listed as No. 156 in the order of the party-list groups allowed by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) to aspire for the available seats in the House of Representatives in the upcoming May 9, 2022 synchronized national and local elections.
Bautista underscored it is important for travelers to adhere to the minimum public health standards, such as the mandatory wearing of face masks, observance of physical distancing and the practice of personal hygiene and disinfection, because the country is still transitioning from the pandemic to the endemic scenario which will surely take some time.
The party-list nominee disclosed that numerous tourist destinations were able to recover during the pandemic that is why it is necessary for people to move around and try to see the difference between the present state of the said spots compared to the pre-pandemic situation of the said places.
He rallied the people to support the advocacy of the party-list group to advance the state of the country’s tourism so that the country’s tourism industry can play a key role in the revival of the economy and provide adequate jobs for the individuals that have lost their jobs and wanting to earn income.