Legazpi City—Few months after Albay governor Al Francis Bichara imposed stricter border control to curtail the spread of coronavirus, today fully vaccinated travelers can go easily and visit the province’s tourism destinations following the lifting of border control here.
Albay province is now classified under level 2 category. Due to this, the provincial government of Albay lifted the negative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, saliva, and antigen test for coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), as well as the mandatory quarantine requirement for fully vaccinated travelers.
Bichara issued an executive order No. 32 stating that residents and non-residents, including those in transit can travel to Albay provided that they shall present a Covid-19 vaccination card across the borders of Albay.
According to Bichara’s EO, those fully vaccinated asymptomatic individuals shall be exempted from quarantine and presentation of antigen test results upon entering the province, while unvaccinated or partially vaccinated individuals entering the borders shall be required to present negative antigen test results within 48 hours from the time the specimen was taken.
Symptomatic individuals shall be turned over to the rural, municipal, or city health units of the local government unit of the final destination.
Bichara also loosen up stricter guidelines and protocols for business establishments and ecotourism destinations across the province allowing 70 percent outdoor capacity from 50 percent.
He said that business establishments and other activities shall be allowed at a maximum of 50 percent capacity for indoor venues for fully vaccinated individuals and 70 percent outdoor venue capacity starting today here.
“In all foregoing activities in said establishments, all workers or employees must be fully vaccinated against Covid-19,” Bichara stated in his recent executive order here
Permitted to operate are venues for meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitors, social events such as parties, wedding receptions, engagement parties, wedding anniversaries, debut and birthday parties, family reunions, and bridal and baby showers.
Recreational venues such as Internet cafes, billiard halls, amusement arcades, bowling alleys, skating rinks, archery halls, swimming pools, and cinema and movie houses have reopened, too.
Dine-in services of food preparation establishments such as kiosks, commissaries, restaurants, and eateries will be under Department of Trade and Industry sector-specific protocols.
While tourist attractions such as libraries, archives, museums, galleries, exhibits, parks, plazas, public gardens, scenic viewpoints or overlooks, and amusement parks or theme parks have likewise been permitted to operate.
Bichara’s EO also said that limited face-to-face or in-person classes for basic education and higher education, and technical-vocational education and training are subject to prior approval. (By: Raneza Sabina Barcebal)