Tagaytay ‘good model’ for tourism ops amid Covid-19: JTF

TAGAYTAY VISIT. Joint Task Force Covid Shield commander, Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar (center), and Tagaytay City Mayor Agnes Tolentino visit a souvenir shop in the city on Saturday (Sept. 19, 2020). Police officials visited the city to inspect compliance of businesses and establishments with health and safety standards to prevent further transmission of Covid-19. (Photo courtesy of JTF Covid Shield via PNA)

MANILA – Joint Task Force Covid Shield commander Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar on Saturday lauded Tagaytay City for being a good model in managing the entry and movement of tourists to ensure that both local residents and visitors are protected from the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) infection.

“The JTF Covid Shield and the Office of Mayor Agnes Tolentino are now working together to turn Tagaytay City as a pilot or model area for all the LGUs that are planning to also open their borders in order to boost local tourism,” Eleazar said during his visit to the popular weekend destination.

Eleazar’s visit aims to make sure that the travel and other quarantine protocols that would be implemented are aligned with the guidelines of the National Task Force on Covid-19 while giving local government units (LGUs) the discretion to find ways to reboot their respective economy amid the adverse economic impact brought by the coronavirus pandemic.

Eleazar said the reopening of Tagaytay City means that people from any part of the country can now visit the area without any travel authority, except for those who live in areas under the general community quarantine (GCQ) or stricter community quarantine status.

Meanwhile, Tolentino welcomed the visit of Eleazar and said the presence of the JTF Covid Shield commander and other ranking Philippine National Police officials.

“We assure the national government through the NTF on Covid-19 that we will be in constant coordination with the JTF Covid Shield to make sure that everything will always be in place in ensuring the proper balance between the need to revive our economy and the health safety of both our visitors and the people of Tagaytay City,” she added.

Tolentino said among the health safety protocols that they would strictly implement is the wearing of both face mask and face shield and the observance of the physical distancing.

To date, Metro Manila, Batangas, Bulacan, and Tacloban City are under the general community quarantine while Iligan City, Bacolod City, and the province of Lanao del Sur are under modified enhanced community quarantine until September 30.