THE Island Garden City of Samal (Igacos) government has extended the last trip of the Samal Ferry Wharf to 11 p.m from 9 p.m.
Igacos Mayor Al David Uy said in a radio interview on Thursday, October 28, 2021, that the adjustment of the ferry’s last trip came after Davao City lifted its 9 p.m. to 4 a.m. curfew.
Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio lifted the curfew and the 24-hour liquor ban on Monday, October 25, following the improvement of the Covid-19 cases in the city.
Uy also bared that they are gradually planning to extend it further depending on the current Covid-19 situation on the island.
"Basig (Maybe) hopefully by next month, basig i-extend nato (we might extend the last trip) then hopefully mubalik na 'tong dati na 24 hours na siya (we might bring back the 24-hour operation of our ferry)," the Igacos mayor said in an interview on 87.5 FM Davao City Disaster Radio.
Recently, the bus routes between Davao City and Igacos have also resumed after more than a year of being suspended due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Based on the bus trip schedule, the first trip from Davao to Kaputian route or vice versa will be at 6 a.m. while the last trip from both routes will be at 6 p.m.
This comes as the island is gradually resuming the operation of its tourism industry.
Uy said they are set to allow fully vaccinated tourists outside Davao Region to enter the island.
Prior to his pronouncement, the island, since it resumed accepting tourists, only catered to residents of the region.
Uy said at present, they are not accepting unvaccinated tourists outside the region.
He said that tourists within the region that remain unvaccinated or those who had not been fully vaccinated will still be accepted. The mayor, however, said they must have an advance booking at their destined resort.
As of Thursday, the mayor said some of the resorts are already fully booked.
Uy said tourists will also undergo strict symptoms screening upon entry.
Meanwhile, Igacos, being a territorial jurisdiction of Davao del Norte, is currently under Alert Level 3 until October 31, 2021.
According to the Igacos City Health Office, the city has a total of 1,871 Covid-19 cases, wherein 50 are active cases, 1,717 are recoveries and 105 are deaths.
"Sa karon, dili na gyud parehas sa una nga stressful. Manageable na siya (As of now, it is no longer stressful. The Covid-19 situation on the island is manageable)," Uy said, adding that the majority of the cases are mild and asymptomatic.