There will be no Bailes de Luces Festival or the Dances of Lights, in La Castellana, Negros Occidental in January next year.
This was disclosed by Mayor Rhumyla Mangilimutan today, Dec. 11, citing the health risks posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
But Mangilimutan said that they are considering the possibility of opening the restaurants and cafés only on Sundays for local tourists with strict enforcement of the mandated health protocols.
These establishments, she said, will be alllowed to accommodate only 50 percent of their capacity.
With the slowing down of tourism-related activities in Silay City and Salvador Benedicto starting to get over-crowded with tourists, we need more places for people to visit as long as the mandated health protocols are strictly imposed, the mayor said.
There are about 30 restaurants and cafes in the tourism areas of La Castellana, with Kanlaon serving as the backdrop, she said.
Mangilimutan said that the municipal government will also deploy employees of the LGU to monitor and strictly enforce health protocols in restaurants and cafes with the assistance of barangay officials and tanods, who will man the border control points.
Local tourists will be required to present identification cards, medical or barangay certificates indicating that they are COVID-19 free upon entering the restaurants and cafes, she added.*GB
