DOT condemns Batangas resort for another alleged violation of IATF guidelines

The Department of Tourism (DOT) condemns yet another reckless social gathering organized at a tourism establishment in Batangas province on Monday, Dec. 7.

The said mass gathering, documented on video by concerned individuals, showed a large group of individuals partying without face masks, face shields nor observance of physical distancing protocols at the beachfront of a resort later identified as the Blue Coral Beach Resorts Inc. in Barangay Laiya, San Juan, Batangas.

The DOT said the incident clearly violates the guidelines set by the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) for areas under General Community Quarantine (GCQ), where the conduct of parties are still prohibited.

Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat lauded the local government leaders of San Juan for taking the necessary action to revoke the business permit and file the appropriate charges to the erring establishment, whose operations were first suspended from September 2 to 17, 2020 after violating IATF-EID health protocols.

Puyat also issued a stern reminder to all accommodation and tourism-establishments in Batangas, and in other destinations that have reopened, to follow health and safety protocols at all times.

Erring establishments may face criminal charges as deemed appropriate by the local government unit (LGU) concerned, and will likewise be sanctioned by the DOT.