MANILA – Tourists might still be discouraged from visiting Boracay Island in Malay Aklan due to expenses from health protocols against the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
This was the assertion of Sen. Nancy Binay with the famed-island resort opening its shores to local tourism last week.
She said despite the assurance from the Department of Tourism that it is safe to go to Boracay, it is still discouraging, especially with the cost of the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test needed to enter the tourist destination.
“‘Pag-inisip mo health protocols, parang ‘di ka rin gaganahan na pumunta. Kung apat kayo [pupunta sa Boracay], sa PCR test pa lang nasa P16,000 na ang magagastos mo, wala pa ang air fare at accommodation at ang tsansa mo na makuha ang virus malaki kasi lumabas ka na ng bahay mo,”the lawmaker explained.
Binay said she is also not in favor of allowing senior citizens and children at the tourist hotspot as she told the government to be “realistic” and cautious so as not to give the tourism sector false hopes that everything would return to normal.
“‘Di magiging normal hangga’t andito sa [COVID-19 pandemic], may mga empleyado na madi-displace, tulungan natin sila makahanap ng puwede nilang pagkakitaan dahil for sure baka ‘di bumalik ang dati nilang kinikita,” Binay said.
Visitors to Boracay needed to secure a negative RT-PCR test result taken within 48 hours before the trip, book an accommodation with a hotel accredited by the Department of Tourism (DOT) and register by filling out a health declaration form on the local government of Aklan website to access a QR code for contact tracing if the need arises./PN
