KALIBO, Aklan – Portions of Boracay Island are back on tougher lockdown measures due to surging cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), further slowing down its tourist arrivals.
This Holy Week, there are no throngs of domestic tourists that used to dot the beaches. Tourist arrivals dropped to a daily average of 90 between March 23 and March 28 – a sharp decline from the 756 tourists between March 1 and March 22.
The National Capital Region “bubble plus” (it is under enhanced community quarantine once more) contributed to the drop.
Incoming tourists are still allowed to enter Boracay Island, especially from within Western Visayas, with negative test results and confirmed hotel bookings outside of the island’s locked down zones (Purok 5 and Purok 6).
There are 31 accommodation establishments within Purok 5 and Purok 6 in Barangay Balabag hit hard by the localized lockdown.
Balabag barangay captain Jason Talapian said the two zones’ surgical lockdown is for 14 days.
As of March 30, Barangay Balabag had 36 active cases while Manocmanoc had 13.
“May isang guest tayo na may kakilala dito, mga partygoers. Nagsama-sama, nag-party-party. Pagbalik niya ng Manila, nalaman natin na nag-positive sa COVID-19. Sa isang bar, lahat halos doon na na-contact tracing ay nagpositibo din,” he said.
The confirmed cases in Purok 5 and Purok 6 were isolated in Kalibo and mainland Malay for mandatory quarantine.
Police also set up border control points to limit the movement of affected households in lockdown areas.
“May mga food packs galing ng Malay Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office at sa probinsiya sa tulong ni Gov. Florencio Miraflores para sa mga residente,” Talapian said.
Also, curfew hours were extended to 11 p.m. to 4 a.m. while bars and restaurants also temporarily suspended their live bands and entertainment./PN
