ILOILO City – The world-famous Boracay Island in Malay town has reopened its beach for tourists in line with the start of the modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) in Aklan on June 1.
Acting Malay mayor Frolibar Bautista told Philippine News Agency in a phone interview that six of the eight designated swimming areas in the island are open for visitors from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day.
Three of the eight assigned swimming areas are located at Station 2, two each at stations 2 and 3 and one at Barangay Yapak.
Bautista said locals and other stranded individuals in the island had started swimming activities on Monday.
“We will open two more this week. We have put red flags on non-swimming areas,” the mayor added.
According to Bautista, beach viewing and sunbathing are allowed at the intervals of the 200-meter swimming areas.
This is to avoid crowding in one space, he said.
The local government unit (LGU) has established lifeguard stations with personnel assigned to screen tourists who want to enjoy the swimming areas.
“Swimmers must be subjected to temperature checking upon entry. They will also have to register their names, address and contact numbers before they will be allowed at the beach,” he said, adding that health standards such as wearing of face masks and strict observance of physical distancing remain imposed.
Bautista said locals and other stranded individuals in the island had started swimming activities on Monday.
Personnel of the municipal police station and local officials have been deployed to make sure the swimming guidelines are followed by the people.
Water sports activities like paraw sailing will also be allowed by the LGU but subject to health protocols.
“I will issue separate guidelines for that,” said Bautista.
Meanwhile, business establishments and other tourism-related establishments need to pass the inspection of the town’s composite team before they can resume operations.
“They will be inspected if they have installed foot baths, hand sanitizers and transparent barriers, among others,” the mayor said.
Returning employees of establishments in the world-famous island would be verified first at the municipality’s Public Employment Service Office before they will be allowed entry.
“We will verify first if the establishments where they work are already allowed to operate,” said Bautista.
For tourism establishments, on the other hand, they should apply before the Department of Tourism Region 6 to comply with the latter’s guidelines on operations under MGCQ, he added. (With a report from PNA/PN)
