MANILA, PHILIPPINES — Following the news of AFP Chief of Staff General Felimon Santos testing positive for COVID-19 on March 27, 2020, Department of Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat has taken it up herself to self-quarantine, as she’s had recent contact with Santos.
Releasing an official statement regarding the announcement, Romulo-Puyat and DOT assures the public that this will not interfere with fulfilling their responsibilities to tourists and stakeholders during this time.
Read the full statement below:
Given the recently unfortunate news that the AFP Chief of Staff has tested positive for COVID-19, I will be undergoing self-quarantine as I was exposed to him in a meeting last March 20.
Since I do not show any signs nor symptoms, I will not be having myself tested in order to save the limited supply of testing kits to people who truly need it.
By staying at home, I will not put anyone I come in contact with at risk. The safety of those around me is my priority.
But this will not stop me from doing my job. We, in the Department of Tourism (DOT), have been working remotely from each other since the start of the Enhanced Community Quarantine. As of March 26, the DOT has assisted 11,863 stranded travelers all over the country.
Our locations will not beset us from fulfilling our duties to serve our tourists and stakeholders in this time of need.
