Igacos mayor appeals for gradual reopening of tourism industry

File photo by RJ Lumawag
File photo by RJ Lumawag

ISLAND Garden City of Samal (Igacos) Mayor Al David Uy has sent an appeal to the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)-Davao to gradually allow the city to reopen the entire tourism industry.

The tourism industry is among the primary growth drivers of the island.

The industry has been suffering following the implementation of movement restrictions due to the ongoing threats of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic.

DILG-Davao Director Alex Roldan said in a radio interview on Monday, February 15, that Igacos's appeal has already been forwarded to the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) and they are waiting for a response.

"Kung mu-concur sila na ato tugutan, then ato tugutan (If they will concur in allowing them to reopen, then we will do the same)," Roldan said in an interview on 87.5 FM Davao City Disaster Radio.

The official said the earlier imposed measures were deemed necessary to curb the transmission within the island.

But he said the current situation calls it necessary to allow some tourism establishments to operate in order to revive the industry and provide job opportunities.

"Maayo man to ila gihimo sa una nga gi-istriktohan nila. Now to the point nga ang pagbalanse man nato sa ekonomiya kay niabot na sa higayon nga na-stretch na og maayo ang economic activities sa Samal... that they have to bite the bullet nga i-open up gamay ang ekonomiya (During the height of the pandemic, the strict measures were deemed necessary. But there was a point that the restrictions strained the economy of the island due to the suspension of some activities... They had to bite the bullet to allow the gradual opening of the economy)," Roldan said.

Roldan added that there is a need to balance health, safety, and the economy.

He also said the City Government of Davao City is also considering to gradually reopen some tourism-related industries.

Igacos, a city under the territorial jurisdiction of Davao del Norte, has been under general community quarantine (GCQ) since December 1, 2020, and was recommended by IATF-EID to stay under the said quarantine status until February 28, 2021.

Uy, in a previous SunStar Davao report, said they already sent a formal letter to the national and regional IATF to consider their appeal.

This came after the Igacos government extended the suspension of tourism activities 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.

However, Uy revealed that the IATF body rejected their first appeal, hence, he extended the suspension of tourism activities.

The Igacos mayor said in a separate radio interview on the same day, that this is the second time they sent an appeal to the IATF.

But he said that on the regional level, their first appeal was reconsidered and was forwarded to the national body. It was, however, rejected.

"Na-OK siya sa regional level (On the regional level, they said OK), but on the national level, nakita siguro nila nga nagkataas ang kaso sa Davao Region, maong gi-reject nila. That was my assumption since na-belong man ang Samal sa GCQ (maybe they saw that due to the increase of Covid-19 cases in Davao Region, they rejected our appeal. That was my assumption since Samal is covered by the GCQ status)," Uy said.

Mindanao Tourism Council president Araceli Ayuste, in a recent press conference, said that resort owners of the island are appealing to the local government to lift its order in closing resorts in the island to revive the tourism industry.

Ayuste said due to the prolonged closure, many workers have been displaced.

"We invested millions in the resorts, but now some of the operators were forced to look for other means to survive like selling anything online," she said.

She also said resort operators like her have to pay salaries for some workers who have to be retained to look after the resort's maintenance and security. They are also worried about their boats.

The tourism industry on the island was first reopened on July 1, 2020 after it was closed at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. The IATF previously ordered the city to limit its number of guests and require an advanced booking for those who will come to the island.

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