Intramuros And Rizal Park Sites Will Reopen On September 2021

Secretary of Tourism Berna Romulo-Puyat announced the reopening of Rizal Park, Fort Santiago, Baluarte de San Diego, and Plaza San Luis on Wednesday (September 15), with limited capacity and shortened operation hours.

Rizal Park will be open from 5:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. beginning September 16 (Thursday), with a maximum capacity of 500 guests at any given time. Park visitors are encouraged to download the StaySafe app to gain faster access; however, traditional contact tracing forms will be provided at the entrances for those without smartphones.

Similarly, Fort Santiago’s hours of operation will be Monday until Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., with a maximum capacity of 150 people at any given time.

Meanwhile, Baluarte de San Diego will be open every day from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with a maximum capacity of 80 persons. The entrance cost for tourists is 75 pesos for ordinary guests and 50 pesos for discounted guests such as the elderly, students, and people with disabilities (PWDs). On the other hand, Plaza San Luis is open to everyone for free from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. every day.

Only persons aged eighteen (18) to sixty-five (65) would be permitted in both Rizal Park and the Intramuros venues.

To encourage more NCR residents to acquire their COVID-19 vaccinations, the DOT will set up an expedited lane for fully-vaccinated individuals who desire to visit Fort Santiago and Baluarte San Diego through the Intramuros Administration (IA). Fully-vaccinated visitors who use the express lane can complete the necessary contact tracing form while within the sites and only have to show it to security authorities before leaving. The DOT has also promoted the use of its tourist attractions to help speed up the government’s vaccination efforts, working with the City of Manila to open a Drive-Thru Vaccination facility at the Quirino Grandstand in Rizal Park.

Meanwhile, regardless of vaccination status, all visitors must undergo mandatory temperature checks at the sites’ entrances and must adhere to minimum health standards at all times, including wearing masks and face shields, maintaining proper physical distance, and washing or disinfecting hands frequently.

The DOT also prioritized the vaccination of its employees as an added layer of protection for visitors. As of September 14, 99% of Intramuros Administration employees had been adequately vaccinated, including contracted security and janitorial staff. Meanwhile, over 96 per cent of all Rizal Park staff have obtained their full COVID-19 immunization.

DOT keep reminding everyone to observe the health and safety standards when visiting Rizal Park, Intramuros, and other reopened tourist sites and attractions and to be vaccinated when the opportunity arises. Not only will you be protecting yourself, but you will also be protecting the workers who rely on tourism from the virus.