Baguio closure fake news
BAGUIO City Mayor Mauricio Domogan debunked news on the closure of the city.
In a video message posted by the city hall information office, the mayor said news going viral over social media about the imminent closure of the city to tourists and locals is fake.
“This is not true that the Baguo City is going to be closed from visitors and residents. There are a lot of news going around that Baguio city is going to be closed like what they have done in Boracay,” said Domogan.
Days ago, a satirical site has pinpointed the city to be closed like the fate of the tourist
island Boracay, gaining a following and going viral, hooking a majority to believe the fake news was true.
Domogan reiterated no directives nor have official reports been given to the city on the alleged closure.
“We did not receive any notice for that matter and Baguio is not like Boracay, yes, we have a lot of concerns in the City of Baguio but I repeat there is no order,” Domogan said.
Domogan added the international community has been alarmed with the news citing the Korean Association has formally approached him to ask if the news of the closure is true.
“I tell you beloved constituents, hotel and restaurant industry, it is not true, fake news yan, wala kami natanggap na order and official news that Baguio will be closed,” Domogan clarified.
However, the rehabilitation of the city has its basis with former Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo first announcing a need for the city to undergo rehabilitation backed by advocate groups in the city who want to regulate and streamline construction as well as management of the city.
Current Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Bernadette Romulo Puyat has likewise issued statements on keeping Burnham Park as an open space, disallowing building of a parking facility.
The Summer Capital records tourist arrivals at 1,521,748 up by 17.52 percent vis-à-vis the 2016 data of 1,294,906 domestic and foreign tourists.
This number also surpassed the national projection of the DOT of 1,359,000 or 11.97 percent over the national projection.
Councilor Elmer Datuin, also in charge of the committee on tourism said the alleged closure is fake news and there is a disclaimer from the author. “Secondly closure cannot happen because we are not like Boracay in situation. Most property in Baguio are private in nature unlike Boracay na government owned with private beneficial users,” Datuin said.
Datuin added the city also does not have grossly neglected environment problem but welcomes the possibility the national government will pour more funds for development of Baguio. “It’s about time that the national government infra spending be diverted and prioritize in Baguio and the Cordilleras because most of our tourism development funds are given in the Visayas area,” he said.