DOT oks P7M for PCR tests for tourism workers

By Leilanie G. Adriano (Staff Reporter)

LAOAG CITY—To boost the confidence of tourists to travel again, the Tourism Promotions Board of the Philippines, the marketing and promotions arm of the Department of Tourism (DOT) has approved PHP7 million for the RT-PCR (reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction) testing of tourism workers in the province.

Covering at least 2,000 DOT-accredited tourism workers composed of tour guides, driver-guides, hotel and restaurant workers among others, RT-PCR testing bearing negative result is required before they can mingle with pre-registered tourists visiting Ilocos Norte.

Xavier Ruiz, tourism operations officer II of the Ilocos Norte Tourism Office said they were able to secure the fund since November last year as they were supposed to roll out the free RT-PCR testing of tourism workers in December if for the rise cases of COVID-19, mostly in this city.

“The free RT-PCR tests of tourism workers is meant to lessen the burden of tourism employers and their workers as they resume operations again under the new normal. This works parallel with our tourists who are also required to submit themselves to COVID-19 tests before they can be permitted entry here,” Ruiz said.

To implement this, members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan presided by Ilocos Norte vice governor Cecilia Araneta-Marcos, unanimously approved Resolution No. 2021-01-250, granting authority to Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Joseph M. Manotoc to enter into a memorandum of agreement with the Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital and Medical Center (MMMH&MC), represented by Dr. Ma. Lourdes Otayza.

The MMMH&MC is a COVID-19 hospital in Batac City and is authorized to perform RT-PCR test among groups and individuals in this northern part of Luzon.

As of Jan. 18, 2021, Ruiz reported a total of 582 tourists—both local and international—visited the province’s major tourism destinations since the re-opening of tourism in October 2020.

“Majority of them are Filipinos and some expats based in the Philippines,” he disclosed.

In Luzon, Ilocos Norte was the first to reopen its borders to tourists on Oct. 15 of last year to jumpstart the local economy.

Only "healthy" tourists from Luzon however are welcome, provided they follow all tourism guidelines when going to the province such as sticking with the travel itinerary with an accredited tour agent and must submit a negative result of antigen test among others.

While in Ilocos Norte, tourists are not allowed to visit public markets and other highly dense areas where locals frequent.

Comments

Empanada festival: A celebration of good taste and good life

By Dominic B. dela Cruz & Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporters BATAC CITY—If there is one thing Batac is truly proud of, it would be its famous empanada-making business that has nurtured its people over the years. Embracing a century-old culture and culinary tradition, Batac’s empanada claims to be the best and tastiest in the country with its distinctive Ilokano taste courtesy of its local ingredients: fresh grated papaya, mongo, chopped longganisa, and egg. The crispy orange wrapper and is made of rice flour that is deep-fried. The celebration of this city’s famous traditional fast food attracting locals and tourists elsewhere comes with the City Charter Day of Batac every 23 rd of June. Every year, the City Government of Batac led by Mayor Jeffrey Jubal Nalupta commemorate the city’s charter day celebration to further promote its famous One-Town, One Product, the Batac empanada. Empanada City The Batac empanada festival has already become an annua

PGIN honors Ilocano heroes of past, present through Heroes Walk

SPO1 Allan Lampitoc Franco of Banna, Ilocos Norte and PO2 Jovalyn D. Lozano of Adams, Ilocos Norte receive a resolution of commendation, a certificate of college scholarship grant to their family members and a P20,000 cash incentive each from the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte represented by Governor Imee R. Marcos and Vice Governor Angelo M. Barba in recognition of their bravery and heroic acts in the Mamasapano clash in Maguindanao on January 25. Mr. Franco and Mr. Lozano were recognized on March 10 in time for the unveiling of the second batch of Ilocano heroes at the Heroes Walk located along the Sirib Mile in Laoag City. (Lei Adriano) By Jennifer T. Pambid PGIN-CMO In honor of the heroes who brought freedom, fame and glory to the province as well as to the country in the past century, the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte (PGIN) through the Education Department and Sirib Youth Office launched the second batch of Ilocano Heroes Walk on March 10, 2015.

Pagudpud’s tourism transformer passes away

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporter LAOAG CITY—Retired Philippine Air Force Col. Ricardo Nolasco Jr., owner of Hannah’s Beach Resort and Convention Center in Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte passed away on Wednesday evening, July 11, 2018. He was 67. “He did not survive an open-heart surgery,” said Ronald Dominguez, spokesperson of the largest resort at Brgy. Balaoi in Pagudpud. Known as the architect behind the transformation of Pagudpud town as a premiere destination of the north, Mr. Nolasco put up Hannah’s Beach Resort in what was originally meant as a family vacation resort. The rest is history when it expanded into more than 300-room executive villas and cabanas, with on-going infrastructure developments and set up various amenities. As a result, hundreds of domestic and foreign tourists visit here daily. The resort is on a cliff by the beach, which provides a spectacular view of the sparkling blue lagoon. “Yesterday will go down my lifeline as one

The Ilocos Times

Search This Blog