BAGUIO CITY – The Department of Tourism-Cordillera Administrative Region (DOT-CAR) on Thursday reminded the public to transact only with accredited accommodation establishments in the region, especially in this city to avoid falling victim to scammers. 

“We have an inventory of DOT-accredited accommodation establishments and other facilities where the public can choose from in booking for a place to stay. It is not just standards that is assured, but also the legality of the facility, ensuring that they will not be conned and end up without any place to stay,” Regional Director Jovita Ganongan said in an interview with the Philippine News Agency.

Ganongan said the list was generated based on the accreditation and not a mere list to choose from.  

Showing the online applications tourism.gov.ph and travelapp.ph on her phone, she said would-be visitors simply have to open these and choose which place they wanted to see. 

“We advocate for responsible tourism—how not to be scammed, to contribute to the local economy, to help maintain the cleanliness and orderliness of the place visited and to ensure that they protect themselves from becoming victims of any crime.

Engineer Bonifacio dela Peña, City Administrator, said the local government also has the Baguio.Visita application which also has a list of city registered accommodation establishments from hotels, inns, transient houses and Airbnb. 

The app, he said, has personnel on duty 24/7 at the city tourism office to assist callers for queries and concerns faced by tourists or prospective visitors.

Meanwhile, Anthony de Leon, Panagbenga Executive Committee chairperson, who is the general manager of Baguio Country Club and president of the Hotel and Restaurant Association of Baguio (HRAB), said many if not all their member accommodation facilities are now fully booked.

“As of last month, many accommodation facilities were already booked and if there are vacancies it could be a few beds or rooms,” de Leon said.

As a tip, he said a red flag for a scam is the insistence of immediately paying for the accommodation fee.

“That should be a warning. If the person they are dealing with insists that payment be immediately sent for an assured reservation, it can be a scam,” he said. 

De Leon said tourists should be responsible for themselves and verify the legitimacy of the services or facilities of the person they are dealing with to avoid being scammed. (PNA)