SAGADA Mayor James Pooten reiterated although the town remains open to visitors, top tourism sites will stay closed.
Pooten said the town still welcomes tourists but with strict protocols to follow to prevent spread of disease in the light of preventive measures being undertaken against Covid-19.
The mayor explained the decision to close sunrise viewings, caving, all waterfalls, echo valley including the Malboro hills trail as well as blue soil area is to avoid any close contacts as well to stop convergence of crowds in cold weather.
Pooten in an Executive Order signed and released Thursday ordered the suspension of all eco-tourism activities in the town with a warning to violators to answer to directly to him.
The chief executive said inns, bed and breakfast lodges and transient homes remain open but with protocols for visitors to follow.
“We are still open to visitors, buy they have to follow protocols we issued,” adding the town is taking drastic preventive measures to ensure health of all.
The order will take effect until further notice and only covers government controlled spots not private establishments.
Sunrise viewing according to the mayor has to stop as well considering temperatures dip to below 10 degrees in the early morning explaining the Covid - 19 thrives in colder weather.
However, private tourist establishments like the Sunrise View Hotel and Isang Wow Sunrise Viewdeck, Paog’s Sunset Viewdeck, Sagada Pottery, Sagada Weaving and Masferre’s Photographs will be open to the public.