Gov. Arthur Yap asks the national government to fast track the roll out of the vaccines to the Boholanos in the midst of rising Coronavirus disease (Covid) threat hanging like a sword of Damocles over the heads of Bohol residents. 

In a letter dated April 10, 2021 addressed to Sec. Bernadette Romulo-Puyat of the Department of Tourism, Yap asked the national government to hasten up the Covid vaccine roll out in Bohol so that the province may be able to open the tourism economy of the province.

A full copy of the letter is published on page 24 of this newspaper.

Yap pointed out, that about 800, 000 Boholanos have to be vaccinated, in order to achieve herd immunity, and restore the local economy.

The governor cited that Bohol is very concerned not only about the impact of the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) on the National Capital Region (NCR), but how the ECQ is impacting the province as well.  

He said in the letter, “Before the NCR went on a lockdown, we were looking forward to a Holy Week where major resorts and hotels in Panglao, were, for the first time since last March of 2020, significantly booked. All these bookings were summarily canceled when the lockdown was declared. Along the way, the hopes of restarting our severely affected tourism sector were also put on hold.”

In February of this year, in the hope of jumpstarting the tourism economy,  the Bohol Association of Hotels, Resorts and Restaurants (BAHRR) in partnership with the Yap-Relampagos Administration, launched an online promo dubbed as “Balik sa Bohol: Online Sale”, wherein all participating hotels and restaurants offered big discounts on room accommodations to tourists who want to visit the island province.

The online sale was a huge success as all participating resorts and hotels were almost fully booked, especially on the dates where the country celebrates the Holy Week.

However, just before the Holy Week, Covid cases in Metro Manila surged to historic high levels, which led to the imposition of ECQ status in NCR and four other nearby provinces by the national Inter Agency Task Force (IATF).

Confirmed bookings were cancelled and the hype and excitement of the tourism sector subsided, as a result of the cancellations, according to the governor.

For the past year, Bohol had to rely on local tourists, which is not enough to revive the tourism industry.

In 2019, the Philippine tourism industry earned P20 billion pesos in revenues from more than a million visitors entering the country.

In an island where more than 70% of the economy is driven by the services sector, the pandemic put 200,000 Boholanos out of work.

COVID MANAGEMENT

In the past year, if compared to other provinces, Bohol managed well the infection rate in the province.

Based on the latest report of the Bohol Inter Agency Task Force (BIATF) released yesterday, Apr. 10, 2021, Bohol recorded a total of 1,441 Covid patients who recovered from the disease with 29 Covid-related deaths.

In the same report, as of press time, it revealed that Bohol has 188 active cases, in an island province of more than 1.4 million local residents.

Yap added, “We have done our best in the past year to manage Covid in Bohol not only for the safety of our local residents, but also so that we can reopen our businesses sooner rather than later. And manage the Pandemic we have.”

TOURISM INDUSTRY: THE BOHOL MODEL

The governor’s strategy is to build a model where Bohol, given its unique attributes, can open its doors ahead of others to bubble tourism scheme between the province and certain key and select cities in the region.

Yap asserts, “If the national government will allow and partner with us, we can create special bilateral arrangements founded on common testing, vaccination and consular protocols to open the way for the return of international tourism to Bohol and our country.”

According to the governor, the model is feasible for Bohol considering the Covid infection rate here, the fact the province has two polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing laboratories,  a local tourism certification system (UBE Seal), 11,000 quarantine beds all over the province, cooperative local and business stakeholders and a proven track record in managing the pandemic.

Bohol’s local chief executive bared, “For this [bubble tourism] to even have a chance, we need to ask that you [national government] fast track the delivery of vaccines to Bohol so we can vaccinate about 800,000 Boholanos as quickly as possible so we can present Bohol to travelers as a safe and managed destination. Building sustainable economic model is the key to managing this pandemic and with your support, Bohol can be that one model we can begin with.”