BORACAY – Tourism stakeholders here are in dire need of solutions to stay afloat during this coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
One option being explored is having a more convenient and affordable COVID-19 test for visitors.
The Sangguniang Bayan of Malay, Aklan is looking into a proposal of the Department of Tourism (DOT) – a saliva-based test like the one being done in airports in Japan.
This test is said to be easier to conduct (no more need for reagents and highly specialized equipment), safe, and faster in coming out with results (about an hour).
At present, the Department of Health considers reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction test (RT-PCR) as the “gold standard” in COVID-19 testing.
SB member Maylynn Aguirre-Graf said the saliva based-test proposal of DOT chief Bernadette Puyat-Romulo could encourage more tourists to visit Boracay.
The sharp drop in tourists since the pandemic started in March forced many hotels, resorts, restaurants, and other businesses in Boracay to either retrench employees or close (temporarily or permanently).
In September, Boracay started easing restrictions to reboot its economy, and specifically its tourism industry. It initially welcomed only tourists from around Western Visayas. A month after, it announced it was opening to tourists from other parts of the Philippines.
The requisite inexpensive RT-PCR test, however, is discouraging tourists from coming in. The test must also be performed 72 hours or less prior to departure, something that strains the tourists’ schedule.
As of Nov. 20, stakeholders and local governments in Aklan were yet to submit their proposal to the Boracay Inter-Agency Task Force and the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases to scrap the RT-PCR test.
Meanwhile, the local government of Malay approved an antigen testing facility to operate in Barangay Caticlan.
The antigen test is cheaper than the RT-PCR test and the result is released within one or two hours. The antigen test will help determine the infection status of employees re-entering their workplace in Boracay or individuals to know their COVID-19 infection.
“May mga kompanya na requirement ang antigentest para masiguro na COVID-free ang mga Aklanon na empleyado,” said acting mayor Frolibar Bautista.
But for non-Aklanon workers, locally stranded individuals and non-Aklanon tourists, they are required to have a negative RT-PCR test result before being allowed to enter the island./PN
