ECO-TOURISM activities in the mountain town of Sagada have been temporarily suspended due to the threat of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The directive was made by Mayor James B. Pooten, Jr., through an executive order issued Feb. 13. The temporary closure covers sites and activities managed by the local government, including the different caves, Pongas and Bomodok Falls, Adventure Trail, Echo Valley, Mt. Ampacao, Marlboro-Blue Soil, and Langasayan. “There is an urgent need to protect the municipality of Sagada and its residents being a top destination for tourists in the North Philippines from the threat of the COVID-19 and similar strains by strictly implementing prevention and control measures,” the mayor said in his directive. The order will be in effect “until further notice.”

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The town’s tourism office said other attractions, particularly those that are privately-owned or managed, will remain open. These include the St. Mary’s Church, weaving and pottery shop, and Masferre’s Photographs, among others. The Sogung Hanging Coffins and Burial Cave along the road are also still accessible for viewing. The tourism office also asked residents and visitors to “remain vigilant against any signs or symptoms of the said virus” and to refer those manifesting symptoms to the NCOV-Fastlane at the Rural Health Unit.

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