Rizal Park, several Intramuros sites set to reopen on September 16

Rizal Park and three sites in Intramuros – Fort Santiago, Baluarte de San Diego, and Plaza San Luis – are set to reopen on Thursday, September 16, with limited capacity and shorter operating hours.

Tourism Secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat announced the reopening of the tourist hotspots on Wednesday, September 15. 

Rizal Park will be open from 5 am to 9 am, for a maximum of 500 visitors at any given time. Contact tracing forms will be available at entrances, but visitors can also use the StaySafe app for faster entry.

Fort Santiago will be open from 9 am to 7:30 pm from Monday to Friday, and 9 am to 8:30 pm on Saturdays and Sundays for a maximum of 150 visitors at any given time.

Baluarte de San Diego will be open daily from 8 am to 5 pm, for a maximum of 80 visitors at a time. The entrance fee is P75 for regular visitors, and P50 for seniors, students, and PWDs. 

Plaza San Luis will be open daily, from 8 am to 9 pm. 

Only visitors between 18 to 65 years old will be allowed to enter. 

There will also be a special express lane for fully-vaccinated individuals, allowing them to accomplish mandatory contact tracing forms inside the site, and present it to security upon exit. 

Regardless of vaccination status, visitors must undergo mandatory temperature checks upon entry, and are required to wear face masks and face shields, observe proper physical distancing, and practice frequent hand hygiene.

Puyat assured the public that 96% of personnel at Rizal Park and 99% of workers of the Intramuros Administration, including outsourced personnel, are fully vaccinated. 

“Time and again, we are reminding everyone to strictly follow the health and safety protocols when visiting Rizal Park, Intramuros, and other tourist sites and destinations that have reopened, and get vaccinated when the opportunity comes. By doing so, not only can you protect yourself, but you are also keeping the workers who rely on tourism safe from the virus, too,” she said. – Rappler.com