Only medical emergencies are exempted from travel restrictions under the new Metro Manila quarantine, the Department of Tourism said Tuesday, reacting to reports that the Balesin Island Club was offering an "Anti-COVID Immunity Treatment" as a way for members to leave the bubble.
Quezon province, where Balesin Island is located, is not part of the NCR Plus bubble that includes the National Capital Region, Laguna, Cavite, Rizal and Bulacan. The stricter GCQ in the bubble lasts until April 4.
"The exceptions for non-essential travel should not to be used as a means to circumvent the restrictions," Tourism Sec. Bernadette Romulo-Puyat told Reportr in a text message.
"Our health workers just asked for two weeks. Lets respect that," Puyat said, referring to the 14-day quarantine that seeks to cap surging infections.
"There is a reason for the rule and the exceptions as well. The guidelines are clear, when we talk of medical exemptions we are talking about medical emergencies or those cases with urgency," she said.
Puyat said she was verifying the alleged travel workaround offered by Balesin.
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Balesin responds
In a statement to Reportr, Balesin confirmed offering the Immunity Booster Program courtesy of Aegle Wellness, but did not acknowledge the alleged travel workaround.
Balesin, operated by billionaire Roberto Ongpin's Alphaland, said the same immunity booster treatment was the reason it was allowed to reopen in August 2020, despite a similar ban on non-essential travel at that time. It qualifies as a "medical reason."
"All Balesin visitors were required to undergo an Immunity Booster Program at Aegle Wellness Center," according to the statement.
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The center where the treatment is offered is an "extensive medical facility" that is staffed by doctors and other medical personnel on a 24/7 basis, it said.
"Balesin is COVID-free and pure sea air environment is surely safer than anywhere in Metro Manila," it added.
