THE Department of Tourism (DOT) in Western Visayas has issued Certificate of Authority to Operate (CAO) and Provisional Certificate of Authority to Operate (PCAO) to a total of 417 accommodation establishments in the region.
DOT-Western Visayas, in an advisory, said the issuance of CAO and PCAO is pursuant to DOT Administrative Order 2020-002.
These accommodation establishments are authorized to proceed with limited operation during the implementation of modified general community quarantine (MGCQ), it added.
As of August 5, the regional line agency has issued CAO to 192 establishments and PCAO to 225 establishments in Western Visayas.
In Negros Occidental alone, 62 accommodation establishments with a total of 641 rooms were given authority to operate.
Twenty-six establishments were given CAO and PCAO in Bacolod City. These establishments have a total of 688 available rooms.
The DOT-Western Visayas also authorized to operate 28 accommodation facilities in Aklan.
These are on top of the 146 establishments in Boracay Island, the region's top tourist destination.
For other provinces and highly-urbanized city, 29 establishments obtained CAO and PCAO; Capiz - 26; Guimaras - 19; Iloilo - 28; and Iloilo City - 53.
For the whole region, there are a total of 7,688 available rooms that can accommodate clients amid the ongoing implementation of MGCQ.