MANILA – The local government unit of Malay in Aklan will be allowing 2,000 travelers to enter the world-famous Boracay Island when it open its doors to local tourism starting Thursday.
Hotels are allowed to operate at 50 percent capacity with a maximum of 2 guests per room while some 382 bars and restaurants have been accredited, according to Mayor Frolibar Bautista.
Some 199 hotels and resorts in the island with a total of 4,416 rooms have been allowed to operate since June, Tourism secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat earlier said.
Meanwhile, Malacanang reminded visitors to that they are required to have a negative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) result 48 to 72 hours prior to departure for Boracay.
“The test-before-travel shall be implemented and strict quarantine shall be observed immediately after undergoing the test until the date of the travel to the island,” Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in a virtual press conference on Monday.
The Palace spokesperson also advised airlines to land at the Godofredo R. Ramos Airport in Caticlan, Municipality of Malay – the only airport of entry in moving tourists to the island.
Roque added that age restrictions will be relaxed while persons with comorbidities will remain to be strictly enforced.
He likewise reminded the Malay government to ensure that minimum health and safety guidelines must be in place. Emergency response protocols must also be there and a COVID-19 laboratory in the locality must be operational.
A COVID-19 laboaratory is also now operational at Dr. Rafael S. Tumbokon Memorial Hospital in Kalibo, Aklan, that forms part of the network of facilities and services needed in a safe environment for host communities, business stakeholders, and tourists.
The national government earlier approved the reopening of Boracay only to residents of Western Visayas, a region comprising of Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo, and Negros Occidental provinces as well as the highly urbanized cities of Iloilo and Bacolod./PN
