BACOLOD City – The city of Sipalay has resumed tourist activities in its selected areas in line with this province’s shift to modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) on June 1.
Mayor Maria Gina Lizares’ Executive Order (EO) 2020-023 outlined the guidelines for tourists, accommodation establishments, tourism-related enterprises, and tourism service providers, a copy of which was posted on the city government’s official Facebook page on Wednesday.
Sipalay is dubbed “The Jewel of Sugar Island” for its white-sand beaches and crystal-clear waters which attract both foreign and domestic tourists. It is located about 175 kilometers south of this city.
Starting June 2, tourists and guests who are allowed to enter Sipalay City are residents of Negros Occidental and Bacolod City, the city’s locals, and foreigners who have been in this province before March 1.
Allowed tourism activities in Sipalay are overnight accommodations for locals and non-local tourists; visits to public beaches for locals and checked-in tourists; and day excursions in resorts for locals only.
The tourist areas in the city that already opened are Poblacion Beach, Sugar Beach, Nauhang Beach, Cartagena Beach, Mayha/Montay Beach, and the Cayhagan beaches.
Punta Ballo Beach and Campomanes Beach, on the other hand, are limited and controlled areas for locals and checked-in tourists.
Still not open for tourism activities, meanwhile, are Anjauan Island, Maasin Island, Malinab Lagoon, Patio-tio Spring, and all caves in Sipalay.
Day tours such as trike tours, resort hopping and island hopping are also still prohibited.
Under the MGCQ, operations and venue capacities of accommodation establishments and tourism-related enterprises shall be at a maximum of fifty percent only.
Swimming, snorkeling, diving, kayaking, paddle boats, surfing, skimboarding, and fishing are also now allowed.
According to EO 2020-023 of Sipalay’s mayor, all incoming tourists are required to fill out an inbound form and a health declaration form and should comply with the minimum health and safety standards such as the mandatory wearing of face masks, frequent hand-washing, coughing and sneezing etiquette, and physical distancing.
Establishments have the right to refuse entry to tourists who do not follow the precautionary measures and those who have signs and symptoms of coronavirus disease 2019, the order said.
When this province was placed under enhanced community quarantine from March to April due to the pandemic, most of the stranded foreign tourists – particularly Europeans – stayed in Sipalay.(With a report from PNA/PN)
