The City Government of San Fernando meets with the City Government of Baguio headed by City Mayor Benjamin Magalong yesterday, May 7, 2021 at the Manor, Camp John Hay, Baguio City for the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the Summit and Sea Tourism Bubble (S&S Tourism Bubble).

The City of Baguio and the City of San Fernando are now venturing further to spark the momentum towards tourism and economic recovery. The S&S Tourism Bubble is considered as micro bubble or a granular bubble inspired by the intentions of Ridge and Reef Corridor entered into by City Mayor Benjamin Magalong and different Provincial Governors including the Province of La Union. The granular strategy ensures the gradual and safe reopening of tourism.

The planned tourism bubble will allow the interchange of tourists between two cities. However, health and safety of the community will still be the utmost priority.

Further, the City Tourism Office of Baguio is closely working with the City Government of San Fernando to finalize the S&S guidelines. Engr. Aloysius Mapalo, City Tourism Officer of Baguio says that a unified public health and entry protocols will be established. Residents from the City of San Fernando must register at the Baguio VISITA online at visita.baguio.gov.ph and get specially designed QR-coded Tourist Pass.

Moreover, a point-to-point transportation in Baguio-City of San Fernando vice versa will also be laid-out.

Acting City Mayor Alf Ortega thanked the officials of the City Government of Baguio and the Deparment of Tourism for supporting the tourism bubble. “This is just one week na pag-plapano, ganon po kabilis gumalaw ang mga opisyales ng City of Baguio at City of San Fernando. And of course, without the leadership of our beloved Secretary Bernadette Puyat, Regional Directors Jovy Ganongan and Jeff Ortega, hindi po mangyayari itong Tourism Bubble”, Alf Ortega said.

“I’m confident and it showed during that one week span that we can do the impossible. Baguio City and City of San Fernando, and we have work so well and we are just neighboring cities and I think this is the most important value that we’ve learned most especially during this pandemic that we are still blessed. Baguio is so blessed, look at all the trees that we have here. City of San Fernando is so blessed with the beaches and we have a blessing and let’s continue to help each other out so that our local economies can thrive again,” he added.

The City of San Fernando is grateful with its partnership with Baguio City. Indeed, this a great opportunity for the tourism sector of the two cities to thrive.

With the love and unity that we have for each other, we continue to emanate #SanFernandoAyAyatenKa.

The power of love will get us through in these trying times, thus the City Government of San Fernando will continue to intensify its partnership with the tourism stakeholders to revive the economy and help the local communities especially the local business owners amidst the CoViD-19 pandemic.