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Managaha still not fully operational but open to camping
DPL resumes camping activity, with 25 people per night
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Posted on Nov 16 2020
Although Managaha Island is still not fully operational, the Department of Public Lands allowed starting Thursday last week the resumption of camping activities on the island, albeit with certain limitation.
DPL Secretary Marianne Concepcion-Teregeyo said in a public notice that, due to the limited resources available on the island, only 25 people will be allowed to camp on Managaha per night for health and safety reasons.
When asked for more information Thursday, Deveney Dela Cruz, the DPL special assistant to the secretary, said there is currently a $25 refundable security deposit for the camper’s permit. Dela Cruz said a group of campers will pay just $25 for that group when they submit their permit and they will get the money back on the next business day after they leave Managaha.
She said a DPL ranger staff will assess and patrol the island every morning.
Dela Cruz said Managaha is still not fully operational due to the contractual end of the previous concessionaire. “Services and staff are limited even during operational hours,” she said.
Dela Cruz said they are allowing camping to resume since it was only meant to be a temporary suspension.
DPL temporarily suspended camping activities on the island last Sept. 29 after the COVID-19 curfew was reinstated at that time.
Dela Cruz said the community risk level is still on Level Blue so only 50 people can gather in one place at a time, but with their facilities not being available outside of operational hours, they are limiting the maximum capacity to 25 a night.
She said that, according to one of their permit technicians, there were approximately 50-60 campers over the course of a month prior to COVID-19.
“All those who are enjoying Managaha during the day and those who have agreed to camp during the evening are kindly reminded to follow the regulations posted on the island, local laws, and COVID-19 guidelines since they are still on CNMI soil, to pick up after themselves during their stay, and to take all personal belongings with them as they leave the island,” Dela Cruz said.
