Davao del Norte – The local chief executive of the Island Garden City of Samal (IGaCoS) bared that the tourism industry in the island had opened gradually in August, 2020, starting with the resorts where 50 percent of the accommodation is allowed.
Mayor Al David Uy said booking of clients must be done first before they are allowed entry to ensure that they have their respective QR-codes for contact tracing.
Speaking at the Network Briefing, Uy said only the resorts operated to open up the tourism industry in IGACOS taking its cue from the Baguio experience where there was a gradual opening of tourist destinations.
“Only the Davao Region tourists are accommodated to ensure easier contact tracing.” he said.
Uy stressed that the COVID-19 infection is very much present prompting the local government unit to strengthen its contact tracing and monitoring of tourists going in and out of the island.
He said his administration also focuses on isolation facilities, renting resorts along the sea for persons under monitoring and persons under investigation on facilities for speedy recovery.
Uy revealed that resorts which opted not to open are used as treatment and monitoring facilities.
On the situation of the Davao City-IGACOS bridge project, he said that a ground survey was already done by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) since last week, where they did the oceanographic survey, measuring the depth of the Pakiputan Strait between the mainland and IGACOS.
He said the DPWH is hard press to have the data on the middle of September, so that procurement of construction materials can be done on October and the actual construction will be done on January 2021.
Undersecretary Emil Sadain of the DPWH bared that the Davao City-IGACOS link is currently under a feasibility study with the help of the mayor.
He said the bridge will ensure the growth potential of Davao Region as it provides easy access to vehicles.
Sadain said a four-lane bridge will be constructed between IGACOS and Davao City.
The DPWH Undersecretary says he wishes to have good cooperation with the local government units of Davao City and IGACOS.
He said the DPWH will pursue the construction of big projects in Davao Region this year citing the ongoing construction of the Davao City coastal road project, the Sirawan-Panabo Diversion Road and thee Davao City-IGACOS link that will address the problem in traffic of vehicles in the area.
(PIA XI-Joey Sem G. Dalumpines)
