BORACAY – Purok 5 and Purok 6 in Barangay Balabag here are on lockdown for 14 days.
Of Boracay’s 24 active cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), 14 are in the two purok or zones.
The local government unit of Malay, Aklan which has jurisdiction over Boracay Island ordered the lockdown to prevent the further spread of COVID-19.
The lockdown started yesterday, March 28, and would end on April 10 unless extended or cut short.
Acting Mayor Frolibar Bautista ordered the closure of the puroks borders guarded by the Malay Auxiliary Police and Balabag barangay tanods, Philippine Army soldiers, Philippine Navy, beach guards and Bureau of Fire Protection personnel.
Within Purok 5 and Purok 6 are 31 resorts, hotels and accommodation establishments. Tourists booked in them were advised to limit their movements while incoming booked tourists should transfer to accommodation establishments outside of the locked down zones.
As of this writing yesterday, the distribution of quarantine passes by the Balabag barangay council for households and tourists was ongoing.
Households affected by the lockdown will be provided with relief packs by the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office.
No individuals are allowed to leave their residences for the duration of the lockdown except for Authorized Persons Outside of Residence (APORs) identified by the Municipal Inter-Agency Task Force.
Bautista also ordered a massive contact tracing.
In addition, restaurants with live bands, food parks with entertainment and live show and bands, and organized parties are temporarily prohibited in Boracay Island from operating.
Since the start of the pandemic last year, Boracay Island tallied 65 COVID-19 cases. Forty-one cases have recovered, data from the Municipal Health Office showed./PN
