Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 16) – Two of the most famous tourist attractions in the historic walled city of Intramuros in Manila will reopen on May 17, Monday.
Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat confirmed on Sunday the reopening of Fort Santiago and Baluarte de San Diego following the easing of quarantine restrictions in NCR Plus.
“The re-opening of Fort Santiago and Baluarte de San Diego will allow visitors to again experience the world’s leading tourist attraction as recognized by the prestigious World Tourism Awards,” said Puyat.
RELATED: PH is world’s top dive destination; Intramuros named leading tourist attraction
Fort Santiago will accommodate only 200 visitors while Baluarte de San Diego will allow a maximum of 100 persons at a time, which both meet the 30 percent capacity for tourist attractions set by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases.
The IATF placed Metro Manila and the provinces of Laguna, Cavite, Rizal, and Bulacan under general community quarantine with heightened restrictions until May 31.
Fort Santiago will be open daily from 9:00 a.m. with last entry for visitors at 6:30 p.m. The Baluarte de San Diego garden will be open to the public from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Only persons aged 18 to 65 years old are allowed to enter the two sites in accordance with IATF guidelines.
Intramuros visitors will undergo mandatory temperature and symptoms screening and sanitizing practices. All guests must register their visit through a QR code system for contact tracing prior to entry.
Fort Santiago is one of the country’s most visited tourist destinations which houses well-preserved legacies from the Spanish colonial period, including memorabilia of national hero José Rizal and a replica of his ancestral house in Laguna.
Baluarte de San Diego is a 16th century-made structure constructed as part of the fortifications of the walled city and was primarily designed to repel invasions.
Meanwhile, the Tourism Department said the dungeons, the Museo ni Rizal, ASEAN Gardens, and other sites are still closed to visitors.
