TOURISTS who want to visit Arayat town in Pampanga may need to present an RT-PCR test result prior to their entry.
This, as Mayor Emmanuel Alejandrino disclosed his plan to enforce anew stricter protocols to combat the continuous spread of Sars-CoV-2, which causes the coronavirus disease (Covid-19).
Alejandrino said most of the new cases detected in the town came from outside municipalities, such as tourists visiting resorts and other known destinations.
"Since we have a lot of resorts and tourist destinations in town such as the Mt. Arayat National Park, people who want to relax or enjoy natural scenery really come to visit Arayat but sometimes, they are forgetting that Covid still exists and safety protocols must still be observed," he said.
Since visit of tourists is inevitable, the mayor said the only option seen by the local government unit is to regulate the entry of people by requiring a negative swab result.
He said the measure is eyed to be implemented within the week after the resorts owners are officially informed.
Aside from the planned protocol, Alejandrino said resorts and other tourist destinations must also observe the 30 percent capacity rule for operation by the Inter-Agency Task Force.
"We understand the need for businesses to also operate for the economy and their employees but they must follow the existing rules to ensure the protection of everybody," he said.