PH limits hotel operations to contain COVID-19 pandemic

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 18) — Hotels are no longer allowed to accept new bookings in the midst of the new coronavirus disease or COVID-19 pandemic.

Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said Tuesday night in a press briefing by the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) that hotels can no longer operate except those with existing bookings by foreigners, or those with long-term leases.

“Hotels and similar establishments can no longer operate except those accommodating guests who have existing booking accommodations for foreigners as of March 17, guests who have existing long-term leases, and employees from exempted establishments under the provisions of the March 16, 2020 memorandum,” Nograles said.

Aside from these exceptions, no hotel shall be open to new bookings and accommodations.

The IATF has also disregarded its 72-hour window for international outbound flights, now allowing overseas Filipino workers and foreign nationals to leave the country anytime within the enhanced community quarantine period in Luzon.

The country has been placed under a state of calamity by President Rodrigo Duterte Tuesday. This will last for six months “unless earlier lifted or extended as circumstances may warrant.”

Because of this, the national and local government can now access its quick response funds to address the needs of the public and strengthen its fight against the OCVID-19 pandemic.