Residents of La Trinidad, Benguet can now go to the public markets on Sundays and cockfighting will operate twice a week.
In its meeting Nov. 18, the Municipal Inter-Agency Task Force (MIATF) has allowed the operations of the two public markets on Sundays, but the public is reminded to observe the minimum health protocols.
Mayor Romeo Salda said the cockpit arena in Barangay Shilan will be allowed to operate, following strict guidelines such as limiting the number of persons inside the arena per game.
Salda said the cockpit arena will operate on Thursdays and Saturdays, but no spectators will be allowed inside.
Operators of the arena have appealed to the municipality to allow their operations, saying their umbrella group, the International Federation of Gamefowl Breeders Association Inc., mandated them to resume as part of the proceeds of their games will be given to the Covid-19 fund of the national government.
Local musicians are also allowed to perform in restaurants provided they maintain social distancing and should perform solo. Restobars and bars are not yet allowed to operate because the liquor ban remains in effect.
The 10 tourist sites in the municipality will now also cater to Baguio and Benguet visitors. These sites are Mount Costa, Nature, Darjanes Flower Garden, Lily of the Valley Organic Farm Avong nen Romy Nature Park, and the Living Gifts Cactus Farm.
Other sites are Mt. Kalugong, Bell Church, Garden Nen Ynes Anthuria, Cosmic Farm, and Cordillera Farm Park.
These sites, which will operate on a pre-booking scheme, were given certificate of compliance following strict guidelines on employing health protocols in their sites.
Salda said the municipality is considered as one of the country’s high-risk areas for Covid-19 due to its pro-active stance in line with the national action plan to test, detect, isolate, prevent, and treat Covid-19 patients.
In its Nov. 16 research, the University of the Philippines OCTA Research has identified La Trinidad, Itogon, and Baguio City among the nine local government units in the country considered as high-risk areas for the Covid-19.
The positivity rate of La Trinidad is 3.17 percent while the national positivity rate is five percent.
The MIATF has identified close contacts in homes and boarding houses as the main cause of the Covid-19 transmission.
Salda said although there are individuals who tested positive and allowed to undergo home quarantine, those who are living in boarding houses are accommodated in an isolation facility. – Ofelia C. Empian
