This was the Tourism Department’s reaction to Senator Nancy Binay’s call out to Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat’s supposed violations of COVID-19 health protocols during a trip to Bohol.
Binay earlier said that Instagram stories posted by Puyat showed a series of health violations as she accompanied the Belo family — including minor Scarlet Snow Belo — in touring different sites in the province.
One of the photos in question showed the secretary with six-year-old Scarlet Snow at the South Farm in Panglao, Bohol without facemasks.
Puyat assured that the gesture of removing the mask briefly was done only for photo opportunity. She said their masks were worn again immediately once the photo was taken.
The DOT cited IATF Resolution 118A which states: “Point-to-point travel from NCR plus to areas under modified general community quarantine shall be allowed without age restrictions subject to an RT-PCR test-before-travel requirement for those below eighteen year olds (18) and above sixty-five (65), and other protocols and restrictions as may be imposed by the DOT and the local government unit of destination.”
According to the DOT, the agency’s visit to Bohol with the Belo Family is part of a campaign to inspire Filipinos to travel locally and safely all of them complied with the travel requirements of the host province.
“I’m with Scarlet Snow Belo,” said Puyat during a DOT virtual presser. “This is what we’ve been pushing in the Department of Tourism. Filipinos travel as a family.”
“Bohol is such a family place,” Puyat continued. “Malungkot naman kung hindi mo kasama ang mga lolo or yung below 18 (It would be sad if you don’t bring the elders and those 18 years old below), that’s why we are glad that the IATF approved it. That was a May 31 resolution,”
Meantime, during the same event, the DOT announced that some 10,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines intended for 5,000 workers will be arriving in Bohol as early as this week in a bid to create a travel bubble between the province and tourist destinations in Asia.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 14) – Everyone who was part of the trip underwent RT-PCR testing and everything was coordinated with the local government unit.
