BORACAY – Beginning Jan. 9, tourist visiting Boracay Island in Malay, Aklan are once again required to submit a negative result of their reverse transcription – polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test.
This requirement is contained Executive Order No. (EO) 001, Series of 2022 issued by Aklan governor Florencio Miraflores on Wednesday night.
“The executive order aims to minimize the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019), especially with the entry of the Omicron variant,” Miraflores said.
Under EO 001 or “Guidelines on the Implementation of Restrictions on the Movement of Persons In and Out of the Province of Aklan as well as Protocols to be Observed under the Alert Level System for COVID-19 Response,” all tourists and travelers entering the province must secure a “Quick Response” Code via the Online Health Declaration Card (OHDC).
For travelers, a negative RT-PCR test result with the date of retraction within 72 hours of travel is needed and a screenshot of the OHDC confirmation page, proof of identification as a Philippine resident, travel details, and proof of vaccination status.or government and private authorized persons outside residence, meanwhile, they need to present a travel order/travel authority to be able to enter the famous Western Visayas island.
Returning Aklanons must also fill up the OHDC form on touristboracay.com under Aklan and attach their negative RT-PCR test result, notice of coordination/acceptance form municipality of destination, screenshot of the OHDC confirmation, travel details, and a government-issued ID with address.
Miraflores also set the curfew for Aklan from 9 p.m. to 4 p.m. and Boracay Island at 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. daily. Before that, the curfew was from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. on mainland Aklan and from midnight to 4 a.m in Boracay.
The town of Malay, which oversees Boracay, lifted the RT-PCR test requirement for fully vaccinated tourists in November 2021 as Boracay reached zero COVID cases.
Boracay Island, one of the famous tourist attractions in Region 6, has started to open its doors to tourist across the country last year./PN
