The Department of Tourism in Western Visayas will temporarily stop the issuance of Provisional Certificates of Authority to Operate (PCAO) to accommodation establishments due to non-compliance of the health protocols against coronavirus.
Tourism Secretary Bernadette Puyat, who conducted inspections of several establishments issued the PCAO, noted the lack of compliance with the basic health and safety protocols, DOT Undersecretary Roberto Alabado III, said in a memorandum to regional directors.
“The Secretary has made verbal instructions to ensure that all the rules and regulations governing the operation of accommodation establishments during the existence of community quarantine, ultimately, the health and safety protocols are effectively enforced,” he said.
DOT Region 6 director Helen Catalbas, in an advisory to DOT-accredited and non-accredited establishments in Western Visayas, said the issuance of the certification will be temporarily put on hold.
New and renewing applicants for accreditation and PCAO will be subjected to visual inspection to determine compliance with the health and safety protocols, she said.
As of December 15, DOT certified 83 hotels and resorts in Negros Occidental and 33 in Bacolod City.
Of the 83 facilities in the province, 65 establishments were issued with PCAO, while 18 were given Certificates of Authority to Operate (CAO), while 32 establishments in Bacolod were granted PCAO and one with CAO.*