23 weddings may be affected by Boracay closure —priest

Twenty-three scheduled church weddings may be affected by the six-month closure of Boracay Island, a parish priest said.

Father Tudd Belandres, parish priest of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary parish in Boracay, said a total of 23 weddings are scheduled during the six-month closure, from April 26 to October 25.

Belandres said the church has yet to receive notifications from the couples if they will push through with their weddings.

The priest said some of the couples are local and foreign tourists.

He said the parish church will abide by the government if they are advised not to hold weddings during the six-month closure.

President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the six-month closure of Boracay starting April 26 upon the recommendation of the departments of Tourism, Environment and Natural Resources and Interior and Local Government.

The government will rehabilitate and conduct a massive cleanup drive on the island during the closure.

Swimming in Boracay's waters will not be allowed during the closure.

Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo on Sunday clarified that tourists who are already in the island and have bookings beyond the day of the closure's start will not be told to leave.

Teo said the tourists will be allowed to remain in the island until the last day of their booked stay.

She also said that airlines and hotels in the island have agreed to waive bookings that will be rescheduled or canceled due to the six-month closure.

On Monday, Teo said those who have scheduled weddings during the six-month closure period should rebook to another destination.

"Ganoon talaga. Everybody has to sacrifice. Let's say bite the bullet because at the end of the day, it is for the good of Boracay," she said. —report from Jun Aguirre/ALG/KG, GMA News