Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said Monday staycations are allowed in the newly-formed NCR Plus bubble, this time with age-based restrictions.
Only those aged 15 to 65 can go to staycations during the GCQ period from March 22 to April 4. There were no age-based restrictions before the Metro Manila, Laguna, Bulacan, Cavite and Rizal bubble was announced Sunday.
"Dati, ang staycations walang age restrictions ngayon meron na," Romulo-Puyat told Teleradyo.
Until Easter Sunday, those going in and out of the bubble can only do so for essentials. Movement within the bubble is also restricted.
READ MORE ON THE GCQ BUBBLE:
Mall Hours Adjusted in GCQ Bubble, Here's Your Guide
GCQ Bubble: Here are the Rules on Public Transport
GCQ Bubble vs GCQ vs MECQ: What's the Difference?
Romulo-Puyat said those who rebook their hotels or flights during the bubble period can do so without penalties.
During a meeting of the Inter-Agency task Force on COVID-19 last Saturday, medical frontliners sought the two-week bubble as a "timeout" to help cap rising infections that threaten to overwhelm the healthcare system. For three straight days since March 19, the country saw at least 7,000 new daily cases.
"Humingi ang mga doktor kung pwede timeout muna. Nakakalungkot pero syempre kailangan mapagbigyan ang mga doktor. Sabi naman nila two weeks lang pero nakakalungkot kasi bumubuwelo na tayo, Holy Week madaming aalis," she said.
A uniform curfew from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. was implemented. Restaurant services were limited to take-out, delivery, and al fresco dining. All physical masses were prohibited, even those scheduled for the upcoming Holy Week.
