The partial re-opening of Baguio City, credited to its effective and consistent implementation of public health protocols, is expected to serve as a model for other local government units (LGUs) who are also looking forward to reopening their economies.
The impetus to restore the city’s economy, which had lost P1.7 billion since the quarantine six months ago, drove the local officials to boost and improve on their health and safety protocols. Their success in contact tracing even earned Mayor Benjamin Magalong the title of “Contact Tracing Czar.”
Key government officials led by Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, National Policy Against COVID-19 Deputy Chief Implementer Vince Dizon, and Angkas Co-founder and Chief Transport Advocate George Royeca, guided by Mayor Magalong, made an inspection of certain establishments frequented by tourists along Session Road.
Mayor Magalong emphasized that Baguio City will continue to remain vigilant, “’Ang pinaka-best siguro ngayon is ‘yong tinatawag nating responsible behavior.” Some of the stringent protocols they will be requiring of tourists who will soon be allowed entry include mobile registration, confirmed accommodation reservation, as well as a COVID-19 test before they are allowed to enter Baguio City.
Baguio City, will continue to strictly observe the contact tracing program that it is known for, once it opens its doors to all tourists. To date, only guided tours are being allowed.
Dizon also expressed how he hopes the same effort in Baguio City would be replicated in other LGUs. He said, “I think I have seen the new normal now here in Baguio City. I arrived early dito sa Session Road at marami ng mga sasakyan, nagbebenta at namimili na ang mga tao at halos walang pinagkaiba sa dating Session Road maliban lang sa naka-face mask, face shield, at dumidistansya ang mga tao,” he pointed out.
Royeca concurred, saying,“The past six months of battling the coronavirus and being on lockdown have been challenging for all of us as a nation. However, the success story of Baguio, especially in contact tracing, and preventing the further spread of COVID-19 in this prime tourist destination provides hope for other LGUs that are also hoping to open their economies soon.”
Royeca, who has been monitoring the state of transport in the country since the pandemic hit, also pointed out that it is critical to each LGU’s economic resurgence:, “Transportation is the vehicle for the reopening of the economy. It is at the core of everything that we do when we plan an economic rebound. Employees need it to go back to work, and we need it just to buy essentials. Transportation can help us reclaim lost ground from the virus as one by one, like Baguio, the rest of the LGUs open again to the rest of the country, if not the world.”