Guidelines on Operations of Island and Beach Destinations under MGCQ

September 7, 2020

DOT ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 004-20

GUIDELINES FOR LEISURE AND TOURISM OPERATIONS OF ISLAND AND BEACH DESTINATIONS UNDER A MODIFIED GENERAL COMMUNITY QUARANTINE

WHEREAS, pursuant to Republic Act 9593 or the Tourism Act of 2009, the Department of Tourism (DOT) is mandated to promulgate rules and regulations governing the operation and activities of all tourism enterprises;

WHEREAS, the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) OmnibusGuidelines on the Implementation of Community Quarantine allows for tourism travel across areas placed under Modified General Community Quarantine (MGCQ), subject to the regulations of the Local Government Unit (LGU) concerned or, in case of Boracay Island, the Boracay Inter-Agency Task Force (BIATF); HTcADC

WHEREAS, there is a need to ensure that the leisure and tourism operations of Island and Beach Destinations under MGCQ is in accordance with Minimum Public Health Standards;

NOW, THEREFORE, in view of the foregoing, these Guidelines for Leisure and TourismOperations of Island and Beach Destinations under a Modified General Community Quarantine are hereby issued.

I. GENERAL PROVISIONS

SECTION 1. Short Title. — This Order shall be known as the "Guidelines on Operationsof Island and Beach Destinations under MGCQ."

SECTION 2. Definition of Terms. — For purposes of these Guidelines, the term:

(a) "Accommodation Establishments" shall refer to establishments operating primarily for accommodation purposes including, but not limited to, hotels, resorts, apartment hotels, tourist inns, motels, pension houses, private homes used for homestay, ecolodges, serviced apartments, condotels, and bed and breakfast facilities.

(b) "Beach Destination" refers to any coastal lands composed of sand, pebbles or shell, formed into a continuous plane by action of tides or waves, which is marketed or markets itself as a tourist attraction.

(c) "Community Quarantine" refers to the restriction of movement within, into, or out of the area of quarantine of individuals, large groups of people, or communities designed to reduce the likelihood of transmission of COVID-19 among persons in and to persons outside the affected area. (IATF Omnibus Guidelines)

(d) "Enhanced Community Quarantine" or ECQ refers to the implementation of temporary measures imposing stringent limitations on movement and transportation of people, strict regulation of operating industries, provision of food and essential services, and heightened presence of uniformed personnel to enforce community quarantine protocols.

(e) "General Community Quarantine" or GCQ refers to the implementation of temporary measures limiting movement and transportation, regulation of operating industries, and presence of uniformed personnel to enforce community quarantine protocols.

(f) "Island Destination" refers to an island that is dependent to a significant extent on revenues from tourism, which is marketed or markets itself as a tourist attraction.

(g) "Minimum Public Health Standards" refers to guidelines set by the Department of Health (DOH), as well as sector-relevant guidelines to aid all sectors in implementing non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPI), which refer to public health measures that do not involve vaccines, medications, or other pharmaceutical interventions, which individuals and communities can carry out in order to reduce transmission rates, contact rates, and the duration of infectiousness of individuals in the population to mitigate COVID-19. (IATF Omnibus Guidelines)

(h) "Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine" or MECQ refers to the transition phase between ECQ and GCQ, when these temporary measures are relaxed: stringent limiting movement and transportation of people, strict regulation of operating industries, provision of food and essential services, and heightened presence of uniformed personnel to enforce community quarantine protocols become less necessary.

(i) "Modified General Community Quarantine" or MGCQ refers to the transition phase between GCQ and New Normal, when these temporary measures are relaxed: limiting movement and transportation, the regulation of operating industries, and the presence of uniformed personnel to enforce community quarantine become less necessary.

(j) "New Normal" shall refer to the emerging behaviors, situations, and minimum public health standards that will be institutionalized in common or routine practices and remain even after the pandemic while the disease is not totally eradicated through means such as widespread immunization. (IATF Omnibus Guidelines)

(k) "Tourism Enterprises" shall refer to facilities, services, and attractions involved in tourism, such as, but not limited to: travel and tour services; tourist transport services, whether for land, sea or air transportation; tour guides; adventure sports services involving such sports as mountaineering, spelunking, scuba diving, and other sports activities of significant tourism potential; convention organizers; Accommodation Establishments, including, but not limited to, hotels, resorts, apartelles, tourist inns, motels, pension houses, and home stay operators; tourism estate management services, restaurants, shops and department stores, sports and recreational centers, spas, museums and galleries, theme parks, convention centers, and zoos.

SECTION 3. Coverage. — This Order shall apply to all Accommodation Establishments and other Tourism Establishments in Beach and Island Destinations in the Philippines in areas under MGCQ.

II. LEISURE AND TOURISM IN ISLAND AND BEACH DESTINATIONS UNDER OTHER LEVELS OF COMMUNITY QUARANTINE

SECTION 4. Leisure and Tourism under ECQ, MECQ, and GCQ. — Unless otherwise stated in the Omnibus Guidelines on the Implementation of Community Quarantine, or otherwise declared by the President or the IATF-EID, the conduct of leisure and tourism activities or travel in Island and Beach Destinations in areas under ECQ, MECQ, and GCQ shall be strictly prohibited. aScITE

III. LEISURE AND TOURISM IN ISLAND AND BEACH DESTINATIONS UNDER MODIFIED GENERAL COMMUNITY QUARANTINE

SECTION 5. Interzonal and Intrazonal Movement. — Pursuant to the rules on interzonal and intrazonal movement under the Omnibus Guidelines, the tourism travel of persons across areas placed under MGCQ shall be subject to the regulations of the LGU concerned or, in the case of Boracay Island, the BIATF.

SECTION 6. Health and Safety Protocols and Standards. — As regards health and safety protocols and standards in the leisure and tourism operations of Island and Beach Destinations, Memorandum Circular No. 2020-007 shall apply by analogy or in suppletory character, and insofar as they are not inconsistent with any provision herein.

IV. OTHER PROVISIONS

SECTION 7. Compliance with Other Relevant Issuances. — Accommodation Establishments and other Tourism Enterprises in Island and Beach Destinations shall comply with relevant issuances of the DOT, IATF-EID, DOH, and other sector-relevant agencies, relating to Minimum Public Health Standards.

SECTION 8. Penalties. — Any violation of this Order may subject any violating Tourism Enterprise to the appropriate fines and penalties including revocation of its DOT accreditation, in accordance with relevant laws, rules, and regulations.

SECTION 9. Separability Clause. — If any portion or provision of this Order is declared null and void or unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected thereby shall continue to be in force and effect.

SECTION 10. Effectivity. — This Order shall take effect immediately and shall remain effective until otherwise superseded, amended, or repealed accordingly.

For guidance and strict compliance.

BERNADETTE ROMULO-PUYATSecretary