Individuals who have been fully vaccinated from Nov. 15 to 30 can enter Fort Santiago in the Walled City of Intramuros for free, the Department of Tourism (DOT) announced on Friday, Nov. 12.
Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said the latest incentive is part of the Department's efforts to support the government's vaccination program and to encourage more people to get their COVID-19 jabs.
Puyat is optimistic that the move will also encourage more people to get their shots, adding that incentives and loosening restrictions for the fully vaccinated will help facilitate travel and help tourism destinations and businesses bounce back faster.
"The Department is doing whatever it can to aid the government's vaccination program. Granting incentives is one way to encourage the undecided to oblige in this nationwide effort," Puyat said.
According to the DOT, guests who would avail of the incentive should present their vaccination card or certificates with indicative dates at the entrance gates.
Aside from a free entrance fee, fully vaccinated guests visiting Fort Santiago and Baluarte San Diego will receive free Beep cards, with a cap of 50 guests per day during the said period.
Meanwhile, unvaccinated guests, as well those who are yet to complete their COVID jabs can still enter Fort Santiago and Baluarte De San Diego but will have to pay the entrance fee.
Here are the operating schedule and entrance fees being charged in the Intramuros spots:
• Fort Santiago — 9 a.m. to 7 a.m. (Weekdays), 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. (Weekends); P75 entrance fee for regular visitors, P50 for seniors, students, and PWDs
• Baluarte de San Diego — 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily; P75 entrance fee for regular visitors, P50 for seniors, students, and PWDs
As early as September 14, the DOT announced that 100 percent of workers in the historic Walled City, including its outsourced security and janitorial staff, have been fully vaccinated.
The Intramuros Administration also recently opened its open-air sites as venues for morning exercises exclusively for the vulnerable population for two hours every Saturday.