By Kate Ledesma
Governor Jonvic Remulla ordered to stop all tourism activities in Kaybiang tunnel in Ternate Cavite.
PLANNING TO HEAD OUT to Kaybiang Tunnel? We're sorry to be the harbinger of bad news, but Governor Jonvic Remulla of the province of Cavite has ordered a halt to all tourism activities in the region.
Kaybiang Tunnel, which opened to the public in 2013, is a 300-meter connection between Ternate, Cavite and Nasugbu, Batangas. It is also recognized for being the Philippines' longest road tunnel. It shortens the travel time from Metro Manila to Batangas from four hours to just over an hour via the Tagaytay City route. Due to “selfies” taken in front of the tunnel circulated online after the MGCQ was imposed, the tunnel became a common layover among motorcycle riders and cyclists. Reported that an average of 200 weekly visitors before the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of weekend tourists increased to 2,500 per week.
Regulating the number of people in the area also aims to prevent the spread of the COVID-19, which might be transmitted through crowding in the vicinity of the tunnel. Remulla said the new rules would include prohibitions on parking, eating, picture-taking, and loitering. Police checkpoints will be put up along the highway that compasses the towns of Tanza, Naic, Marangondon, and Ternate to implement his order.
Two versions of reactions are congregated about this news; agree and disagree. Riders are hardly dismayed about this news because it became a “trend” for riders to post pictures online as a remembrance that they passed through the so-called “famed tunnel”. Private and public commuters are also sharing their unhappiness because it may be a hindrance for them in terms of time and transport availability from going out and in Batangas.
Contrarily, residents near the tunnel are impressively agreeing with this policy, due to rampant visits of riders without the supervision of security officials because there are no rules being followed in the said location. It also caused unimaginable litter due to the fact that there is no designated trash bin location. These concerned residents commented that it is not just about protecting everyone from spreading the virus but also to protect the place from being destroyed due to careless actions.
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