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SAFE TO CONDUCT FESTIVALS DESPITE COVID-19 THREAT – ROMULO-PUYAT

It is safe to conduct festivals and public gatherings in the country, despite the threat of COVID-19, the Department of Tourism (DOT) has assured.

Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat gave the assurance after the Department of Health (DOH) earlier recommended the cancellation of big events and other mass gatherings amid the threat posed by the new coronavirus.

Romulo-Puyat said a joint memorandum circular by the DOT, DOH, and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) will be released to encourage local governments to pursue events despite public fears over the COVID-19 outbreak.

“We also agreed among the DOH and the DILG regarding the fiestas, events, celebrations. We agreed we’ll be implementing a joint circular among the three agencies that it is all right to conduct such activities as long as precautionary measures are implemented,” the tourism chief said.

“All our stakeholders in the tourism industry have already implemented all these precautionary measures even before the temporary ban.” 

“And we want to assure you that all our stakeholders in the tourism industry have already implemented all these precautionary measures even before the temporary ban. So it’s safe,” the tourism head added.

Several local government units and other groups have decided to forgo activities with large crowds to reduce the risk of virus transmission.

Filipinos have expressed fear over a possible COVID-19 spread in the country after the government earlier confirmed three cases of the new coronavirus.

Three Chinese nationals from Wuhan, China, the epicenter of the outbreak, who traveled to the Philippines had tested positive for COVID-19. One of the three infected died. His partner, who is also from Wuhan recovered. The third infected, a woman from Wuhan, has returned to China.

Despite the threat posed by the new coronavirus, President Rodrigo Duterte is encouraging Filipinos to travel with him around the Philippines.

In a video message uploaded by Radio Television Malacañang recently, Duterte assured the public that it is still safe to visit the country’s various tourism areas.

“Everything is safe in our country.”

“To my fellow Filipinos, I encourage you to travel with me around the Philippines. I assure you that everything is safe in our country, be it an issue of health, be it an issue of law and order, and be it an issue of accessibility,” the Chief Executive said. 

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