Last month in a virtual gathering, Tourism Regional Director Tanya Rabat-Tan said the main focus of her agency is on restarting the industry. “Even in a crisis we continue to find opportunities on how we can rethink and reshape a more resilient tourism for the future,” Rabat-Tan said.
The regional office, she added, wishes to ensure that local government units and their business sector comply with standards. To do this, the agency has started accrediting enterprises.
The agency has also held seminars and training for industry stakeholders, including members of the indigenous communities, to capacitate them as the industry goes on full steam in a new normal setting.
However, the problem is that even before the economy could take off, some people have again pulled it down.
In the middle of last month when the city government decided to lift the ban of serving liquor in restaurants and similar establishments, a bar was accused of operating without a permit and failure to implement minimum health standards.
The Business Bureau ordered the establishment to close down as citation tickets were also issued against those who violated the minimum public health standards.
This prompted Dr. Michelle Schlosser to call on the public to be socially responsible particularly when they go to public places like bars so they won’t contribute to the possible renewed surge of the virus.
“It’s not about the liquor ban, it’s how people conduct themselves. People (who went to the bar) did not drink, but were attending a party. Even if there was a liquor ban if people were undisciplined, then we would repeat a history of a surge,” said Schlosser.
Schlosser hit the nail right on its head. Unless the people are sensible enough in their actions, the reopening of the economy will not only suffer, but will even worsen the health problem.
