Hotels need DOT nod to continue operations under MGCQ

AEs that resume operations without the DOT accreditation and the DOT Certificate of Authority may be subject to the relevant penalties under applicable laws, rules and regulations. (Pexels photo)

MANILA – The Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Tourism Congress of the Philippines (TCP) on Tuesday underscored the need for all accommodation establishments (AEs) to secure a DOT Certificate of Authority to Operate prior to the resumption of operations under modified general community quarantine (MGCQ).

In a joint statement, the two noted that application for such certification is free.

“DOT–accredited AEs need only to submit to the DOT Regional Office with jurisdiction over their area the Letter of Intent to Operate, while Non-DOT-accredited AEs will need to apply for accreditation to ensure compliance with requirements,” the statement reads.

AEs that resume operations without the DOT accreditation and the DOT Certificate of Authority may be subject to the relevant penalties under applicable laws, rules and regulations.

TCP President Jojo Clemente said the partnership between DOT and private sector stakeholders is key to paving a steady, safe and productive restart of tourism across the country.

Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, for her part, said tourism stakeholders should coordinate with their respective local government units in assessing the actual readiness of their areas.

Moreover, the DOT enjoined stakeholders to defer to the strict guidelines issued by the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) in connection with the reopening of businesses shifting from one community quarantine level to another.