The local government of Bohol is gearing up for the upcoming re-opening of tourism in the island on November 15, following months of closure to keep the COVID-19 pandemic under control.
Authorities announced that Panglao City will be the first to open since it is the nearest to the airport. Tourists can stay for up to five days and are required to be retested through RT-PCR when the limit is breached.
Bohol Governor Arthur Yap clarified during the briefing of Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque that do-it-yourself tours are still prohibited. Other requirements may be viewed at tourism.bohol.gov.ph.
Nearly 200,000 workers were displaced in Bohol due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and revenues amounting to almost ₱15 billion were lost.
“Kung magtatagal pa ito, wala na tayong pondo na ibibigay sa mga tao… Kung hindi natin tulungan sila by reopening the economy, we will have a bigger social problem here (If this goes on, we will no longer have funds for the people… If we do not help them by reopening the economy, we will have a bigger social problem here),” Yap stated.
The island of Bohol is currently under MGCQ with only 81 active COVID-19 cases, mostly returning LSIs and OFWs. – Report from Rocky Lesigues
