It’s not quite clear if tourists are allowed in Tagaytay City or not. Last week, Tagaytay City reopened its borders to tourists adding that travel passes were no longer needed to visit the popular tourist destination.

Naturally, this good news encouraged many visitors from Metro Manila and nearby provinces to ride up. The news even caused traffic jams in the area.

However, just a few days after, the Joint Task Force COVID Shield said that travel passes are still needed to go to Tagaytay. Specifically, JTF COVID Shield Commander, Police Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, clarified that the waiver on the use of travel pass is only for those residing within the province of Cavite. As such, those residing in Metro Manila still need to get a travel pass according to the PNP.

The latest development comes from Tagaytay’s local government (LGU), which said there’s no need for a travel pass. Governor Jonvic Remulla of Cavite announced that Tagaytay City is open for business. He added that visitors going to the popular tourist destination no longer need to secure a travel pass. The announcement comes two days after the PNP said that non-Cavite residents will still need to secure a travel pass to enter.

“On behalf of the Cavite Provincial Government, I would like to apologize for the hasty decision to issue a travel warning to Tagaytay City last September 15. I was reacting to a directive made by Philippine National Police Chief General Guillermo Eleazar issuing a statement that a travel pass is required to enter Tagaytay,” wrote Remulla on his Facebook page.

“Sa kasalukuyan, bukas po ang Tagaytay City under MGCQ at hindi po kinakailangan ng travel pass para makarating dito,” he added. (At the moment, Tagaytay City is open under MGCQ and a travel pass is not needed to go there.)

Remulla, however, reminds visitors to follow strict health protocols while in the area. COVID-19 is still very much present with 250 cadets of the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) are stationed along Tagaytay-Sta. Rosa Road has tested positive for COVID-19.

The current conflict between Cavite and the JTF COVID Shield however does little to clarify if Tagaytay is indeed open to tourists.