“As you know, we haven’t fully recovered yet from the Taal [eruption]. Just as when we were about to reopen, then came [the virus outbreak],” said city tourism officer, Jelanne Mendoza.The steam-driven eruption of Taal Volcano in nearby Batangas province on Jan. 12 spewed ash that blanketed Tagaytay, some 30 kilometers away.
The city immediately closed its leisure park, casino and shopping malls, while hotel and condominium guests were asked to leave. About 60 out of hundreds of establishments like banks, grocery and drugstores, and restaurants, are operating but only on take-out or delivery schemes. A branch of a popular coffee shop chain has offered to reopen its business, but city officials are wary that it might draw big crowds of patrons.