Less than 50 visitors in Boracay reopening

By Joseph B.A. Marzan

 

Only 46 people are expected to arrive in Boracay Island in Malay, Aklan today, Oct. 1, 2020, as the world-famous island reopens to tourists from other areas of the country amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

The number was confirmed Wednesday, Sept. 30, by Rechan Casidsid, Tourism Operations Assistant of the Malay Tourism Office.

Casidsid said the minimal number may be due to the requirements set by the national and local governments.

“As of [Sept. 30], there are only 46 people who have been listed to come here [on Oct. 1]. I guess when they saw the requirements included the negative [RT-PCR] test result, they may have hesitated instead, because we understand that these tests are not cheap, and can cost even more than their hotel and travel bookings,” Casidsid said.

He said that the provincial and municipal governments will have a simple virtual program today to celebrate the reopening to be attended by local and some national officials.

Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat was initially slated to come but has cancelled for unknown reasons.

But national media reports said that Puyat is on quarantine after being exposed to a COVID case.

 

REQUIREMENTS

Resolution No. 74 of the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID) provided the following guidelines for the reopening of the island to tourists from General Community Quarantine (GCQ) areas or lower:

– travelers must obtain a negative Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) result after undergoing testing not earlier than 48 hours before the date of travel;

– no age restrictions, but restrictions to persons with comorbidities will be strictly enforced;

– the Godofredo P. Ramos Airport in Brgy. Caticlan will be the only port of entry for airlines serving tourists bound for Boracay Island, with a central point to be established for tourists travelling by land, air, or sea; and

– enforcement of minimum health standards such as wearing of face masks and face shields as well as emergency response protocols in place, and a presence of a fully-operational COVID-19 Laboratory in the locality.

In addition, Aklan Governor Florencio Miraflores Jr. also issued Executive Order No. 037 on Wednesday, which provided more comprehensive guidelines for tourists.

The new EO requires tourists outside Aklan, in addition to a negative RT-PCR test result, to have a confirmed booking from a DOT-accredited accommodation establishment, as well as online registration for the online Health Declaration Card available in the provincial government’s website.

Negative RT-PCR test results are not required for tourists 7 years of age and below.

According to Casidsid, the Health Declaration Card, which is in the form of a Quick Response (QR) Code, contains all of the details of the tourists, such as their RT-PCR test result, their trip details, their length of stay, and their accommodation establishment.

He said that the QR Code will be scanned by authorities at the ports of entry, and all establishments that are permitted to operate.

Aklanon tourists are not required to present RT-PCR test results, but only their online registration and their confirmed booking with a DOT-accredited establishment.

Not all DOT-accredited establishments are allowed to operate as they must secure a Certificate of Authority to Operate (CAO) or Provisional CAO by the department.

The DOT outlined the requirements and standards to operate in their Administrative Order No. 2020-002 and Memorandum Circular No. 2020-002, both issued by Romulo-Puyat on May 22, 2020.

One-day visitors to the island from outside Aklan province, such as Authorized Persons Outside of Residence (APOR), will still need a negative RT-PCR test result, a travel order or mission order, a  valid government or company ID with complete address, clearance from the Malay local government unit (LGU), and their online registration.

The following APORs are exempted from presenting a negative RT-PCR test result:

– members of law enforcement agencies such as the Philippine National Police (PNP), the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Bureau of Jail Management and Penalogy (BJMP), Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Bureau of Immigration (BI), and the like who have a travel order or mission order or any proof of travel for official purposes;

– members of the Judiciary whose areas of assignment require them to conduct hearings at two provinces within a week;

– Regional Department Heads or their duly authorized representative in the conduct of administrative supervision;

– Senators and Congressmen with their Chiefs of Staff;

– Department Secretaries, Undersecretaries, and Assistant Secretaries;

– Ombudsman and Deputy Ombudsman; and

– Bureau Directors.

One-day Aklanon visitors, however, will only need to comply with the online registration and surrender their IDs at either Caticlan Jetty Port or Tabon Jetty Port.

The QR Codes generated through the online registration should be kept personally by the registrants at all times, until they leave the province.

The EO also banned the operation of bars in Boracay Island.

Neither the IATF-MEID nor the Aklan provincial government provided a cap on the number of tourists that will be allowed to enter the island, but Casidsid said that they will be following the IATF -MEID guidelines which provides only for up to 50 percent capacity in accommodation establishments.