ISLAND Garden City of Samal (Igacos) Mayor Al David Uy appealed to the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) to allow the gradual resumption of tourism activities within the island.
In a radio interview on Thursday morning, January 7, 2021, Uy said they already sent a formal letter to the national and regional IATF to reconsider their appeal.
This came after the Igacos government extended the suspension of tourism activities until January 15 due to the spike of Covid-19 cases in Davao Region brought about by the recent Christmas holiday.
Its tourism activities were suspended on December 18, 2020, in anticipation of an influx of tourists who wish to celebrate Christmas in Samal.
Only transport of essential goods and services for work in offices or industries are currently permitted to operate under IATF guidelines.
Uy said the suspension of tourism activities was also suspended following the recent IATF-updated classification announcement of President Rodrigo Duterte extending the status of the entire Davao del Norte, the province where Samal belongs, under general community quarantine (GCQ) until January 31.
According to the IATF, leisure and tourism activities and establishments are prohibited under GCQ areas.
"Mao na dako problema namo ron since kabalo ta nga dako ang ekonomiya sa Samal, dako nga contributory factor ang tourism industry (This has become a problem for us because our local economy relies on tourism activities)," Uy said in an interview on 87.5 FM Davao City Disaster Radio.
The Igacos mayor mentioned in their letter to IATF that they have already placed health safety protocols and other measures to ensure that they will not violate the guidelines prescribed by the Department of Health (DOH).
"Kaluoy sa Diyos, low man ang Covid cases sa Samal. Mao nakabutang sa letter namo (Thank God we have low Covid-19 cases, which we also indicated in our letter)," he said.
Based on the January 6, 2021 data of the Provincial Health Office of Davao del Norte, Igacos has a total of 110 Covid-19 positive cases, where nine are active cases, 96 have already recovered, and five deaths.
The mayor said they are hopeful that both IATFs would reconsider their appeal, but if not, he said the local government will abide by and extend the tourism ban until the end of the month.
Meanwhile, Uy said the city had provided assistance to affected establishments and they are already coordinating with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to enroll affected workers under the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged / Displaced Workers (Tupad) Program.