VIGAN CITY, June 30 (PIA) - Due to the effects of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic to its tourism sector, the city government of Vigan is implementing various projects and programs to ensure the safety of tourists as well as the authorized persons outside residence (APOR) and locally stranded individuals (LSIs).

During the Laging Handa Network Briefing hosted by Presidential Communication Operations Office Secretary Martin Andanar today, Mayor Juan Carlo Medina said that since January, COVID-19 pandemic has affected its tourism sector.

"We were expecting 150,000 tourists coming to Vigan, ang dumating na lang ay 20, 00. Noon pa lang nararamdaman na natin ang epekto nito," he said.

The city's tourism sector has an accumulated loss of about Php 250-million because of the stoppage of tourism industry from March to May.

"Malaki talaga ang nawala, hindi lang sa city government pero pati na rin sa ating partners na tourism establishments and tourism-related businesses," he added.

Amidst this, the city government continues to implement programs for its tourism and economy to recover while ensuring safety for its residents, workers, and tourists.

"Kami ay nakikipagtulungan ngayon sa ating mga establishments, especially itong mga tourism accommodation establishments. Ina-allow na natin na makapasok sa kanila ang ating mga APOR," he said.

Being the capital of Ilocos Sur province, Medina said that most workers stay in the city, hence, the city government sees to it that they are being checked and monitored thoroughly when they go in and out of the city.

"They have to report to the City Health Office, kailangan nilang mag-register, kailangan may reporting ang mga hotels natin sa atin para makita na walang nagkakasakit sa kanila, walang nilalagnat, at walang nahihirapan kung anuman ang mga problema nila. At the same time, we see to it na ang mga workers nila ay dumaan sa minimum health standards orientation para alam nila ang do's and don't's sa kailangan nilang gawin," he added.

Medina lauded the cooperation of each individual in the city especially to the owners of establishments, now that the province is under modified general community quarantine and hotels have started to open and dine-in are allowed in restaurants.

"At the same time, we are cooperating with our restaurants na tinutulungan natin sila kung paano nila mai-open na for dine-in kasi talagang affected sila. May umiikot tayo na team, nag-che-check sa kanila kung paano ang tamang distansya para sa tables at para tulungan sila kung ano pa ang kailangan nila," he added.

To help businesses regain their loss income during the quarantine period, the city government partnered with a local cooperative here to provide loans to its micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) affected by the pandemic.

"We are offering this at a very low interest rate at the same time mag-uumpisa lang silang magbayad dito after 10 months para meron ulit silang working capital at kumita muna sila bago bayaran ang loan," he said.

The city government is also conducting a digital campaign to persuade tourists to visit the Heritage City.

"We are also doing digital campaign for our 'Balik Vigan Program' para mahikayat na naman ang ating mga turista na bumalik dito sa Vigan. We are very fortunate with our proximity to Manila, so ine-expect namin na kung matapos na itong pandemya na ito ay sila rin ang isa sa makakasama natin na babalik din dito sa Vigan," he added.

Now that Vigan City is COVID-19-free, the city government focuses on maintaining and improving safety and precautionary measures against the COVID-19 pandemic.

He said, "These are just some projects and programs of the city that we do para ma-feel ng mga turista natin na safe rito sa Vigan and at the same time para sa tourism establishments na maramdaman nila na tinutulungan natin sila at safe sila para tumanggap na ng APOR and LSIs." (JCR/AMB/JMCQ/PIA Ilocos Sur)