AFTER nine months, the rustic town of Sagada in Mountain Province re-opens to tourists.

But locals are the only ones allowed.

In an executive order (EO), Sagada Mayor James Pooten Jr. said the opening is for present Sagada residents, provided that minimum health protocols in accordance to the Department of Health (DOH) guidelines will be strictly implemented.

The residents who want to visit another barangay of Sagada are asked to comply with the requirements set by the local government unit of the barangays they are going to tour.

Caving is not yet allowed, while Bomod-ok falls and other attractions will be opened to the public.

The mayor, in his EO, said the re-opening is part of the steps the Municipal Government is undertaking for the gradual opening of tourism by allowing inter-barangay travel and leisure activities.

Non-accommodation tourism-related business and leisure areas and ancillary establishments like swimming pools and agri-tourism farms, among others, are allowed to operate only at 50 percent capacity.

These establishments are also required to use reservation or booking system to avoid overcrowding. They are also being encouraged to employ online payment whenever possible to limit direct contact.

Pooten, meanwhile, suspended on November 9 all travel requests and quarantine passes related to Guinsadan Sur, Bauko after a Covid-19 case was confirmed in the area. (SunStar Baguio)