Biz group pushes saliva test as alternative for Boracay visitors

Despite efforts of the business sector and local government units (LGUs) to revive the tourism industry in the world-famous Boracay Island in Malay, Aklan, the number of visitors coming in is still not enough to sustain the tourism-dependent businesses that are trying to recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) Western Visayas noted that data from the Malay Municipal Tourism Office indicated that 15,307 tourists visited Boracay in December 2020.

But the number declined to 11,898 visitors in January 2021, with majority of tourists coming from Metro Manila.

“While the number has been encouraging, with 15,307 and 11,898 visitors who arrived in Boracay through Caticlan in December 2020 and January 2021, respectively, these numbers are still not substantial for our stakeholders in Boracay to survive and sustain its operations,” PCCI-6 said in its joint appeal addressed to the Boracay Inter-Agency Task Force.

Due to the insufficient number of tourists visiting the island, the local business sector is seeking for the approval of saliva testing as an alternative testing mode for Boracay-bound tourists.

In its joint appeal signed by PCCI- Region 6 Governor Ronald So, Boracay President Wesley Van Der Voort and other PCCI chapters in the region, the business sector said that the real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) Saliva test is cheaper, faster, and easier to administer compared to the nasopharyngeal-based RT-PCR test.

In the letter, the PCCI said that “Boracay remains to be the top tourism destination of the country and can effectively serve as the jumping board in regaining our momentum in terms of tourism.”

The letter was addressed to Secretaries Roy Cimatu of Department of Environment & Natural Resources, Eduardo Año of Department of Interior & Local Government, and Bernadette Romulo-Puyat of Department of Tourism.

The trio also head the Boracay Inter-Agency Task Force.

“We would like the Boracay Inter-Agency Task Force to seriously review and consider, and if acceptable and reliable, approve for the immediate use of the RT-PCR Saliva Test as an alternative testing mode for Boracay-bound tourists. We understand that the aforesaid testing, which is cheaper, faster and easier to administer, has been approved by the Department of Health on January 25, 2021,” PCCI 6 said.

The local business sector said that the saliva testing is cheaper by at least 50% compared to the present RT-PCR swab test with only three to four hours of turn-around time.

Initial tests conducted by the Philippine Red Cross also indicated 98.11% accuracy for saliva tests.

PCCI Western Visayas also sought support from the Boracay Inter-Agency Task Force for the installation of a molecular laboratory for saliva testing in Caticlan and/or Boracay.

“This will ensure the timely and accurate COVID testing for both tourists and other stakeholders alike, thus promoting a safer, healthier and better environment that would further boost and fast track the economic recovery of the Island,” PCCI furthered.

The local government authorities have imposed strict measures to keep Boracay Covid-19 free.
For one, tourists are required to submit a negative RT-PCR test result within 72 hours before arriving on the island.

The strict measures however made tourists resort to fake RT-PCR tests in order to enter the island.

According to PCCI, while they deplore the recent incidents of tourists with fake RT-PCR tests, these also indicate the serious intention of tourists to enter Boracay especially with the summer season approaching.

“This will not only benefit Boracay, but the entire Western Visayas Region as its other cities and provinces also supply both labor and materials to the Island.”

Once the Covid-19 Saliva Testing is fully implemented in Boracay, PCCI said it can help boost its recovery efforts and may serve as a template for all the other major tourist destinations in the Philippines.

In the entire region, the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) molecular laboratory in Passi City has been piloting the saliva-based Covid-19 testing. (ERS)