A month short after Baguio reopened its doors to tourists on Oct. 1, the City Tourism and Special Events Division announced Thursday that more tourists can enter the Summer Capital.
Tourists from Luzon may now stay at a relative’s house or at a Department of Tourism-accredited accommodation faci-lity. Age restrictions have likewise been lifted.
From the previous 200 tourists per day, 500 tourists daily may now enter Baguio and the nearby Benguet towns of La Trinidad, Itogon, Sablan, Tuba, and Tublay.
Same day trips and long-term vacations have also been allowed provided that tourists continue to adhere to the established procedures of the city government which is to register first at visita.baguio.gov.ph portal and upload a valid ID and photo, approved travel and QR-coded pass, health declaration form, and a negative result of Covid-19 test.
A tourist has the option to be tested prior to travel or upon arrival in Baguio.
Tourists still have to undergo triage upon arrival in Baguio and present printed copies of their re-gistration, ID, health declaration form, and negative Covid-19 test for verification.
Meanwhile, the Office of the Mayor has updated the entry of returning residents, authorized persons outside of residence (APOR), returning overseas Filipino workers, and residents of the LISTT.
In an advisory signed by Mayor Benjamin Magalong on Oct. 23, inbound travelers are required to register first at hdf.baguio.gov.ph and upload documents such as medical or health certificate issued by local health office from place of origin, and copy of ID card, copy of result of negative RT-PCR or antigen test, travel pass through permit (for those passing-through only), proof of being an APOR such as certificate of employment, among others and a doctor’s referral or proof of doctor’s appointment (if seeking medical consultation in Baguio).
Non-APOR residents who need to travel for essential purposes including students, need to present a travel permit issued by the Philippine National Police from point of origin aside from the health declaration form, ID, and a negative RT-PCR or antigen test result.
Those arriving in the city for the first time since the declaration of the community quarantine in March may opt to undergo 14-day home quarantine instead of testing.
The updated guidelines took effect last Oct. 26 and will remain in effect subject to further issuances of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases or the local IATF. – Rimaliza A. Opiña
