NCR Plus tourists flock to Baguio City

Tourists from the National Capital Region Plus bubble composed the majority of visitors who entered Baguio City on Saturday, June 12.

A long line of tourists waiting for their turn to be processed at the triage area was seen on Saturday, a regular holiday as it was Independence Day, according to a report on News TV Live on Saturday.

Many tourists were seen at Burnham Park and Tam-Awan Village.

Based on Baguio's May 17 entry protocols, leisure travelers must be able to present a valid government ID, and either a negative RT-PCR/AG/PRC saliva test result, or they must undergo antigen (AG) testing at the City Central Triage.

Staff of the Baguio City local government unit said they have enough test kits.

The government eased COVID-related restrictions on domestic travel by allowing leisurely trips from NCR Plus to areas under general community quarantine (GCQ) and modified GCQ regardless of age from June 1 to 15.

The national government on June 1 also approved Baguio City's request to accommodate tourists in the "Summer Capital" but the local government's COVID-19 health policies should still be followed.

Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said the government's pandemic task force approved Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong's request to accept tourists even from the NCR Plus despite the imposed GCQ on the city.

According to Baguio authorities, tourists interested to go to the city must first schedule their visit through https://visita.baguio.gov.ph/

Baguio City is under GCQ until June 30.

As of June 12, the city had recorded a total of 12,961 confirmed COVID-19 cases.

Of this number, 604 are active; 12,086 recovered; and 271 died. —KG, GMA News