Just this day, June 4, Department of Tourism announced the continuous prohibition of tourism activities in Metro Manila and other areas under general community quarantine.

On the other hand, Bohol, known for its Chocolate Hills, Philippine Tarsier, and white-sand beaches, could become a model for the "new normal" given the local government's highly-effective pandemic response which has resulted zero COVID cases, according to the National Task Force (NTF) on COVID-19 officials.

“Nasa GCQ (General Community Quarantine) na po kayo (Bohol), baka mapunta na kayo sa MGCQ (Modified General Community Quarantine), ibig sabihin malapit na kayo sa new normal. I believe gagawin natin ang Bohol na model for new normal,” National Action Plan (NAP) against COVID-19 Chief Implementer Carlito G. Galvez, Jr. said during a press conference in the province.

Photo from: Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP)

According to The Manila Times’ article, the tourism sector in Bohol may gradually reopen in July as the government has given priority in helping the province—one of the country’s popular tourist destinations.

Galvez said that these are among the reasons why the government is focused on reviving tourism-based economies such as Bohol, but taking into main consideration the health and safety of the public.

“Unang una, ang (plan) namin is matulungan ang Bohol to open up its businesses. Kasi nakita natin ang COVID crisis will stay hangga’t wala pang vaccine. So ang nakikita natin na ang primary needs sa Bohol (na kailangang aksyunan) is yung tourism and travel,” Galvez said.

In order to attain this goal, the first order of business is to ensure the well-being of the residents and the tourists who will be coming in once the province opens up for business, according to NAP against COVID-19 Deputy Chief Implementer Vince Dizon.

“Ang goal is to make Bohol one of the models para sa pag-reopen ng tourism sa Pilipinas. And the number one requirement for that to happen is to have a very strong testing capacity sa Bohol,” Dizon noted.

Based on the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) news, the NTF officials brought with them 500 sets of Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs), as well as one Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) machine to Bohol, which shall be turned over to the Governor Celestino Gallares Memorial Medical Hospital in Tagbilaran City.

Dizon said the government also plans to establish a COVID-19 testing laboratory at the Bohol-Panglao International Airport, which will provide a boost to the province’s testing capacity.

“It will be an absolute necessity now for all international airports to have their own laboratory, and Bohol is a top priority because of the strength of the tourist industry in Bohol,” he said.

“Gagawa muna tayo ng protocol, we will coordinate with the governor, and the DoT, and titingnan din po natin with DTI (Department of Trade and Industry) kung anong mga business (na pwedeng mag-bukas ulit),” Galvez said.

In 2018, the Department of Tourism reported that more than 1.4 million local and foreign tourists visited the province.

Referrences: https://www.manilatimes.net/2020/05/25/news/top-stories/bohol-eyed-as-model-for-new-normal/726992/

https://peace.gov.ph/2020/05/bohol-eyed-as-a-model-for-new-normal-ntf-on-covid-19-officials/