By Ivy Marie Mangadlao
Correspondent

BUTUAN City ― Tourists who have been fully vaccinated will no longer be required to present their RT-PCR swab results upon visiting the municipalities of Hinatuan and San Agustin in Surigao del Sur province as the local government eased entry restrictions.

Municipal Mayor of Hinatuan Shem G. Garay said that since the Covid-19 cases in Hinatuan have been successfully curtailed, there is a paramount need to lift some restrictions in the imposed guidelines during the implementation of Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ).

Based on his order issued last Friday, all tourists coming from different places who are already considered fully vaccinated for Covid-19 shall only be required to present their full dose vaccination card together with their valid identification card.

“It is deemed necessary to implement beneficial interventions that would rehabilitate the economic catastrophe during the imposition of stringent guidelines that will lead to a gradual economic recovery without jeopardizing the Covid-19 response to maintain the health safety of the community,” Garay added.

Municipal Mayor of San Agustin, Libertad O. Alameda, also pointed out that the town needs to re-open the operation of all tourist destinations to ensure that the economic activities are still functioning.

“All tourists coming from outside (the) Caraga Region are required to present a valid ID and vaccination card if available. If there is none, just RT-PCR swab test and follow minimum health protocols,” Alameda said.

Provided under the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) Resolution No. 124-5, a fully vaccinated individual is someone who has more than or equal to two weeks after having received the second dose in a two-dose vaccine; or more than or equal to two weeks after having received a single-dose vaccine.

Citing the same IATF-EID resolution, a fully vaccinated must be administered with vaccines that are included in the Emergency Use Authorization List or Compassionate Special Permit issued by the Philippine Food and Drug Administration or Emergency Use Listing of the World Health Organization.

Hinatuan is popularly known for its Enchanted River, a short stretch of river that flows into the Pacific Ocean with turquoise water and is around 80-feet deep. While San Agustin is the home of 24 islands with white sandbar beaches scattered across waters of the Lianga Bay, overlooking the Philippine Sea.