Berjaya Hotel Makati faces closure for quarantine breach

The Makati City government has served a closure order to Berjaya Hotel after the Department of Tourism suspended its accreditation for allowing a guest to skip quarantine.

The hotel is questioning the closure order, stating it lacks legal basis and that the DOT's suspension of its accreditation is not yet final.

Berjaya Hotel also cited the logistical challenges of an immediate closure, including 18 guests testing positive for COVID-19 and 80 others in quarantine.

The hotel argued that there is no law penalizing establishments for not reporting guests who jump quarantine and that it was not afforded due process by the city government.

The closure stems from the guideline that only DOT-accredited hotels are allowed to operate during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The hotel's suspension followed its failure to stop and report Gwyneth Chua, a returning Filipino, from skipping quarantine.

Chua, her parents, boyfriend, and five hotel personnel are facing complaints for violating Republic Act 11332 or the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) issued a decision on Wednesday, Jan. 5, penalizing Berjaya Hotel Makati with a fine of PHP13,200.00 for violation of health and safety protocols, and a three-month suspension of its DOT accreditation for failure to comply with R.A. No. 11332.