EL NIDO, Palawan – The municipal government here has issued an order restricting tourists from breaking quarantine guidelines.
Executive Order (EO) 20-049 details how tourists should act accordingly throughout the duration of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ). It was issued following observations that many tourists continue to roam around doing leisurely activities.
Some El Nido residents have noticed that some foreign tourists have been regularly ignoring quarantine measures. These tourists have been seen jogging, snorkeling, kayaking, and even vlogging and filming themselves in public areas.
“Some have been regularly ignoring [quarantine protocol], but must comply. I once approached a tourist who was snorkeling, telling him that it wasn’t allowed because of the quarantine. He simply ignored me and walked away,” said one resident who declined to be named.
On April 6, the Municipal Government of El Nido’s official Facebook page released copies of EO 20-049. Tourists are non-residents who do not have “permanent residency in El Nido and in the Philippines.”
Only one Tourist Pass “for each solo tourist, group, company, or couple,” and it will contain “all the names of the tourists that may use the pass at a time.” Also, the designated tourist who will go outdoors must be accompanied by a staff of the establishment where they are staying,
It also stated that tourists can “no longer jog, swim, snorkel, drive around, sightsees, and engage in other leisure activities, as these are non-allowable reasons to go outdoors.
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