Manila museums, library reopen amidst ongoing pandemic
AFTER being closed to the public since the start of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID -19) pandemic lockdowns in 2020, the National Museum of the Philippines’ three component parts — the National Museum of Fine Arts, the National Museum of Anthropology, and the National Museum of Natural History — will be welcoming visitors again beginning March 2, albeit with many restrictions and regulations. Also opening are the National Library and the San Agustin Museum in Intramuros.
The National Museum buildings will be open on Tuesdays to Saturdays (9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m.). The number of visitors will be limited to 100 guests at a time. Only persons aged 15 to 65 years old will be allowed entry (they must bring a valid ID).
The National Planetarium will remain closed until further notice.
According to a post on the National Museum’s official Facebook page, visitors are required to pre-book online at reservations.nationalmuseum.gov.ph at least one day prior to their planned visit. An online confirmation will be sent through e-mail. A health declaration will also be facilitated along with the online reservation process.
Groups and group reservations are limited to a maximum of five people. Walk-in visitors without prior reservation will not be granted admission.
A temperature scan will be taken upon entry. Persons with a temperature of 37.5 degrees Celsius and above will not be allowed to enter. Likewise, any person with a fever and flu-like symptoms will not be allowed to enter.
Guests must observe health and safety guidelines such as wearing face masks and face shield, and a distance of two meters between persons at all times. Hand sanitizers are available inside museum premises.
The use of elevators shall only be allowed for persons with disabilities and senior citizens. Guided tours are not allowed.
For inquiries, e-mail inquiry@nationalmuseum.gov. ph; or call 8298-1100 ext. 3000 or 8527-7889. For more information, visit https://www. facebook.com/nationalmuseumofthephilippines.
NATIONAL LIBRARY OF THE PHILIPPINES
Meanwhile, the National Library of the Philippines on Kalaw St. in Manila has also reopened, welcoming a maximum of 100 visitors per day.
The library’s reading room is open Mondays to Fridays (9 a.m. to 3 p.m). Appointments must be booked online prior to the date of visit through the online reservation form (https:// docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfPjRDlI0PSROm7VhZ NqGmM6pv4qQ0vVMGv7pSZl2tZbm7fHA/viewform?fbclid=IwAR3TUx1yPvzLu7GIjQKNGScFSCjUlsAOVmkGUTL2 0K4osK4fHMe07CZKYJA). A confirmation will be sent via email with the user’s reservation code (LURC) and seat number.
Visitors are encouraged to browse the NLP Online Public Access Catalog (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/ 1FAIpQLSfPjRDlI0PSROm7VhZNqGmM6pv4qQ0vVMGv 7pSZl2tZbm7fHA/viewform?fbclid=IwAR3TUx1yPvzLu7G IjQKNGScFSCjUlsAOVmkGUTL20K4osK4fHMe07CZKYJA) for titles they are interested in. For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/NLP1901.
SAN AGUSTIN MUSEUM
The San Agustin Museum in Intramuros has also opened its doors to visitors. It will be open Wednesdays to Sundays (8 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.).
Only visitors ages 15 to 65 will be allowed in the museum. The museum will accommodate a maximum number of 100 persons at a time. The museum will also implement a no-touch rule to all museum artifacts and exhibits.
Entrance fees are P200 for adults, and P160 for students, PWD, seniors and frontliners. —