DAVAO CITY — Tourism officials in Davao said major tourism activities are still a go, despite several reported cases of Monkeypox (Mpox), particularly in Davao City, which has six monitored cases.
Department of Tourism Davao regional director Tanya Rabat Tan said they are sharing the advisory of the Department of Health to their tourism stakeholders, particularly the accommodations sector, advising them to take precautions and practice health protocols.
“When we had the briefing with the DOH through the RDC (Regional Development Council), I think it was last year when we had a meeting, we immediately issued an advisory from the DOH to our stakeholders, especially as accommodation enterprises, to take extra care and to practice the minimum health standards,” Tan said.
She said the advisory is a reiteration of previous reminders to prevent the spread of the Mpox virus within their sector.
“We always continue to monitor our hotels, so far as our knowledge, there were cases within the industry. That is why we always reiterate the health advisory,” Tan said.
For the City Tourism Operations Office of the local government of Davao City, the Duaw Davao Festival is still on, but with reminders to practice health standards.
Duaw Davao is a major tourism event organized by the CTOO, which brings together several fun activities and events to draw in more tourists, particularly local tourists, to several sites across Davao City.
“So far, we have no restrictions on our activities and events we do not see any in the coming days. We are all set sa Duaw from our opening date on June 5 to June 29,” Charlotte Parba, CTOO administrative officer said.
Parba says they continuously remind visitors and participants of the various activities to take precautions like wearing face masks and disinfecting like handwashing.
Currently, the City Health Office has six positive cases of Mpox which are being closely monitored. These included four new cases reported in the month of May and two cases recorded in April. PIA DAVAO