Tourists are once again barred from entering Baguio City after it shifted back to a stricter community quarantine due to the increasing number of new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases in the Cordillera region. 

Mayor Benjamin Magalong, however, appealed to Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat to allow them to accept a certain percentage of leisure travelers in order to help revive their economy ,especially this February, which is "Love Month"

"During general community quarantine (GCQ), talagang bawal ang tourists (tourists are really not allowed) but you can appeal, you can request the DOT. We just wrote to Secretary Berna, they are now deliberating on it," Magalong said in an interview.

"Hihinitayin muna namin ang approval ng DOT. They will endorse that to the IATF kung pwede kaming tumanggap ng tourists such the case na ginawa sa Batangas (We will wait for the approval of the DOT. They will endorse that to the IATF if we can accept tourists just like the case in Batangas),” the city’s top executive added. 

It can be recalled that the DOT allowed in October last year recreational diving in Batangas despite being under a stricter quarantine status.

Should Baguio City's request be rejected, Magalong said they will have to comply with the decision and turn away tourists, who wish to visit the summer capital.

"We cannot violate the IATF guidelines, we have to strictly comply with it. So, just wait for further announcements. But for the meantime, we are not allowing tourists to come up to Baguio City," he said. 

Currently, essential travelers or those who have official business, or returning residents or workers, are allowed to enter Baguio City. 

The entire Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) was placed under a stricter quarantine status beginning February 1 in a bid to contain the increasing number of COVID-19 cases in the area.