LGU, PNP brace for tourist influx

By Jennifer P. Rendon 

Armed with health and security preparations, both the local government and police of Malay expressed readiness to welcome local tourists to Boracay Island.

Acting Mayor Frolibar Bautista of Malay, Aklan said that concerns on reopening of the island on June 16 have been discussed during the meeting of the Boracay Inter-Agency Task Force (BIATF) last Thursday.

Bautista believed that they have covered all possible contingencies, including cases of COVID-19.

“We have set up an operation center for that purpose,” he said.

When asked about the preparedness of medical facilities on the island, Bautista said they have two hospitals – the St. Gabriel Medical Center – Boracay and the Ciriaco S. Tirol Hospital.

St. Gabriel is a private facility while the Ciriaco S. Tirol Hospital is government-run and has a 30-bed capacity.

Initially, suspected cases of COVID-19 will be catered by the government hospital and will be brought to Kalibo where there is an isolation center under the management of Dr. Rafael S. Tumbokon Memorial Hospital.

But of course, “we hope that we won’t reach that point that’s why we are making the reopening gradual,” Bautista said.

Bautista said they wanted to first welcome tourists from the region to assess the situation before they cater to other local tourists from outside Western Visayas.

For now, he said they are geared for local tourists and have no definite timeline on when Boracay Island will open for non-Western Visayas residents.

“Every 15 days, we would conduct an assessment. From there, we could decide on what steps to make,” he said.

Days before the opening, Bautista said they would just ensure that all health protocols are in place,” he said.

Bautista said they would be placing thermal scanners at either the Tabon Port or the Caticlan Jetty Port.

Tourists are required to present identification cards as proof of residence and will be made to fill-up a health declaration certificate.

As to hotels and other accommodations, authorities will inspect their premises if they have put in place minimum health protocols before they are given a certificate to operate in compliance with the Department of Tourism’s guidelines under its Memorandum Circular 2020-002.

As to the protocols in the island, the rules under Executive Order No. 027 series of 2020 that Bautista issued on May 31 will still be observed.

Under EO No. 027, swimming is allowed only to limited areas within Stations 1 to 3 and Brgy. Yapak, rental for equipment such as snorkels and goggles are not allowed, and a curfew will be imposed from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.

Meanwhile, the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) said they will strictly implement what was agreed during the BIATF meeting.

While local tourists would be allowed entry, “those below 21 years old and above 60 years old are still prohibited in going to the island being vulnerable to COVID-19 as identified by authorities,” PRO-6 said in a statement.

The PRO-6 has recently established the Boracay Operation Command Center with 25 CCTV to centralize security measures and closely monitor the area on top of regular police visibility.

The Malay Police Station, in coordination with other law enforcement and emergency response teams, also conducted series of training in preparation for the soft opening and implementing the minimum standard of health protocols for the new normal.

“We are now ready to secure Boracay Island but we will ensure strict implementation of protocols and guidelines established by the Inter-Agency Task Force,” Police Brigadier General Rene Pamuspusan, Western Visayas police chief, said.

But he also asked local tourists for their utmost cooperation and discipline amidst the pandemic.