Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 15) — A top official on Tuesday detailed the initial guidelines on the use of hotels and motels as facilities for COVID-19 patients after the Department of Tourism (DOT) allowed hotel staycations.
National Task Force Against COVID-19 Chief Implementer Carlito Galvez said hotels with above-average amenities and service can be booked for staycations. Motels and hotels with two- to three-star ratings, meanwhile, can still be used as temporary quarantine facilities.
“Nagkaroon ng arrangement sa DOT na lahat ng three-star, two-star, at mga motels ay gagawin nating quarantine for positive at saka OFWs. Sa staycation, four-star at five-star,” he said in a media briefing.
[Translation: There is an arrangement with DOT that three-star and two-star hotels and motels will be used as quarantine facilities for COVID-19 patients and returning OFWs. Four-star and five-star hotels can be used for staycations.]
The DOT is expected to release the full guidelines on staycations in areas under general community quarantine.
Galvez said the ₱4.5 billion allocated under the recently-signed Bayanihan 2 can pay for the isolation of 128,000 COVID-19 patients in hotels and motels.
