The local government of San Juan shut down Blue Coral Beach Resort in Barangay Laiya, Batangas, after it allowed its visitors to hold a beach party amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Cedric Castillo reported on “24 Oras” that a concerned citizen sent a video to the Department of Tourism, which showed people screaming, playing loud music, and dancing with no physical distancing at the Blue Coral Beach Resort on Monday.
According to San Juan Mayor Ildebrando Salud, the resort’s management informed them that they would have guests but did not declare that the visitors would have a party.
Mass gatherings are still prohibited in San Juan, which is under general community quarantine.
“May party, may sounds, may stage. Nag-request po sila na magkakaroon sila ng guests pero wala po silang sinabi na magkakaroon ng event,” the mayor said.
(There is a party, there are sounds, there is a stage. They requested that they have guests, but they did not say that there would be an event.)
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Blue Coral Beach Resort in Batangas shut down due to beach party
“Sabi ko po, kung kasya ‘yan doon sa [itinakda] natin na limitation sa tao. Ang sabi naman po, tutulog lamang,” he added.
(I said it’s okay if they comply with the visitors’ limit. They said the guests would just sleep there.)
Authorities from the local government immediately stopped the party and issued a closure order to the resort.
The San Juan government also canceled the resort’s mayor and business’ permits.
“Sa ngayon po ay pinalagyan po namin sila ng paskil na sila po’y sarado dahil po sa paglabag sa IATF health protocol,” Salud said.
(For now, we have posted a sign saying that they are closed for violating the IATF health protocol).
Blue Coral Beach Resort has not issued a statement regarding the incident.
Last week, up to 25 staff of a business outsourcing company (BPO) in the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) tested positive for COVID-19 after holding beach and pool parties.
Based on the report sent by the unnamed BPO company, its management allegedly did not know that holding mass gatherings of employees is prohibited.