By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson yesterday revealed the Mambukal Mountain Resort in Murcia, which is owned and operated by the provincial government, may be closed temporarily due to financial losses amid ongoing concerns surrounding the coronavirus disease, or Covid-19.
After the resort reportedly lost P900,000 in booking cancellations over the past month, the governor noted, “We expect more reductions of tourists visiting Mambukal so we might consider closing it.”
He said resort manager Ellen Marie Jalandoni will assess the situation this week, adding, “Then we will decide.”
With regard to other tourist destinations, Lacson said, “If things are not well, you will find ways to reduce costs as income is not coming in anymore.”
Meanwhile, which the recent cancellation of this year’s Panaad sa Negros Festival, the governor said he is considering the possibility of a Christmas Festival.
“We hope, by then, Covid-19 will be over,” he said. “We are planning to hold the said festival for as long as conditions will allow.”/DGB, WDJ