Manila Parks, Limasawa Island Implement New Rules Amid Rising COVID-19 Cases
The National Parks Development Committee (NPDC) has limited the Rizal Park and Paco Park’s visiting hours, while Limasawa Island officials ban the entry of tourists to their municipality until March 31.
Luneta Park/IMAGE from FAQ.ph
According to the NPDC, they have limited both parks’ visiting hours to 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., intending to help the government slow down the surge in COVID-19 cases in Metro Manila. They also added that those tourist spots will only be open to park-goers aged 18-65 who are visiting the premises to exercise.
“In accordance with the guidelines issued by the IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases) and the Department of Tourism, visitors must wear their face masks and face shields to be permitted entry inside the premises,” the committee said.
They have also been advised to download and register at the StaySafe.PH app to enable contactless contact tracing before they are allowed to enter both landmarks.
The NPDC added that marshals will help park-goers if they don’t feel well at the premises.
“The NPDC looks forward to the cooperation of the public so that it can continue to provide a safe space for park-goers to exercise at Rizal Park and Paco Park, and help them maintain their physical and mental wellbeing amid the ongoing pandemic,” it said.
Limasawa Island bans tourists for 10 days
The municipality of Limasawa in Southern Leyte has prohibited the entry of tourists for 10 days to prevent overcrowding in events related to the 500th anniversary of the First Mass in the country on March 31.
Pintuyan Church/IMAGE from Discover Limasawa Island Facebook Page
In an advisory, Limasawa Mayor Melchor Petracorta said tourists are banned in their island town from March 22-31. Only pilgrims, whose names are included in the master list approved by the provincial government, will be permitted to enter. They also prohibit the entry of private motorcycles from the mainland during the said dates to avoid traffic congestion during the celebration. Boats without government registration are not allowed to ferry outsiders to and from Limasawa.
On March 31, the town will celebrate the First Mass in the Philippines and Asia when the Ferdinand Magellan’s fleet set foot on Limasawa 500 years ago. The mass will be celebrated by Fr. Pedro de Valderrama.
Meanwhile, the Catholic Church Diocese of Maasin has scheduled several activities to celebrate the First Easter Sunday Mass. One of the highlights is the enshrinement of the Señor Santo Niño de Limasawa at the Triana Parish to be conducted by the Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines Archbishop Charles John Brown. He will also lead the holy mass and will join in the program and launch of the 500 Years of Christianity year-long activities at the town’s Magallanes Shrine.
Source: Philippine News Agency (1)/(2)
