DEPARTMENT of Tourism (DOT) Assistant Secretary Myra Paz Abubakar has urged local government units (LGUs) in Zamboanga Peninsula to ease up travel requirements.
Abubakar said one of the programs of her office is to encourage domestic visitors and residents to travel to different and beautiful places within the region.
Abubakar said domestic tourists are still hesitant to travel from one place to another in the region as some LGUs are still required to present a negative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) result.
Abubakar noted that the National Inter-Agency Task Force has already recommended the easing out of various requirements provided travelers must follow health protocols like wearing of face mask, face shields, and observance of safe physical distancing.
“There are still LGUs like Zamboanga City that require RT-PCR test results for reason that it does not want to spread the virus,” said Abubakar, who is also the DOT-Zamboanga Peninsula director.
She hopes that through the Regional Inter-Agency Task Force, all the cities and provinces in the region will harmonize travel requirements.
The local government maintains the RT-PCR test result as an entry requirement to protect and control the spread of the coronavirus in this city.
Dr. Dulce Amor Miravite, city health officer, said the RT-PCR test is important to determine the status of travelers entering this city and prevent a surge in Covid-19 cases, as the city still has active cases being reported.
Miravite said the RT-PCR is also a safeguard for families from possible exposure to Covid-19 when receiving loved ones and relatives who are coming home to this city.
Abubakar has also requested the city government to study the possibility of adjusting curfew hours to provide livelihood to businesses operating at night.
The city government is currently implementing a curfew from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m.
“There are several establishments operating at night time were close due to the imposition of curfew hours. Many people also have lost income,” the DOT official said.
She said the city government should impose a curfew on young people but let the older ones enjoy the night, providing livelihood to businessmen and workers alike. (SunStar Zamboanga)