ILOILO City – Almost four months since it allowed travelers from Western Visayas to enter, Boracay Island in Malay, Aklan reopened yesterday to tourists from areas under general community quarantine.
About 26 tourists came on the first day of the reopening, seven from Manila, five from Aklan, and 14 from different regions minus the media covering the event, said Malay, Aklan acting mayor Frolibar Bautista.
Ninety-five tourists were initially expected but the remaining may have failed to complete the government’s health requirements, he said.
Around 204 hotels with a combined 4,474 rooms are so far allowed to operate under Boracay’s new normal.
Should any of the guests show symptoms of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), Department of Tourism (DOT)-accredited hotels each have a designated health and safety officer who will alert the Boracay COVID hotline number 152.
Tourism secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat is looking at the low turnout of Boracay visitors as an “opportunity” for the government to better assess what needs to be improved.
“I’m (a) glass half full (person). Mabuti nang paunti-unti muna so we could test the protocols. I’m expecting na mas dadami pa ang tao sa Undas so mabuti na rin na konti-konti yung dumadating…slow but sure,” she said in the virtual presser.
Travelers below 21 and above 60 years old are now allowed to enter the island except for those with underlying medical conditions.
A tourist planning to visit Boracay must also undergo reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction test at least 48 hours prior to departure.
Confirmed booking in a DOT-accredited accommodation establishment, airplane tickets, and the negative test results should be submitted online, through http://aklan.gov.ph, for the approval of the Aklan provincial government.
Each visitor who is cleared to travel to the island will then be issued a unique personal QR (quick response) code for monitoring.
Boracay remains free from COVID-19 and to sustain this, Romulo-Puyat said the government would continue to provide support in ensuring that health and safety protocols are implemented.
The safety and well-being of tourists and residents remain DOT’s top priority, she stressed.
“We urge our visitors to be responsible tourists. Follow the guidelines. Respect the rules. We can never be too complacent, even on vacation. We must adhere to the minimum health protocols. Let’s wear our masks when possible,” said Romulo-Puyat.
Acting mayor Bautista assured the public that appropriate COVID-response is in place should any tourist exhibit a symptom of the respiratory disease.
“The tourist will be assessed by our triage team. A medical staff will assess whether that person is a COVID suspect or is just experiencing symptoms not related to COVID. Once diagnosed as a COVID suspect, we will transport the tourist via or land/sea transport system and bring him to a facility in Kalibo,” he told reporters.
The data from the QR code system would be used to identify the close contacts should a guest test positive for the coronavirus while on the island. (With a report from the Philippine News Agency/PN)
