Boracay night life lively as residents, tourists welcome island's reopening

A live marching band and fully-opened stores greeted tourists on the first night of Boracay's reopening on Friday, six months after it was closed for rehabilitation.

However, construction work on the island still continues with hotels still undergoing renovation and roads being cemented.

At the D'Mall, almost all of the stores were already open, a sign that residents have recovered fast, according to a Balitanghali report on Saturday by Joseph Morong.

Meanwhile, tourists and residents hung out standing on the beach as tables and chairs were already prohibited in the area.

Tourists have noticed the improvement in Boracay's waters.

"The water is so much better now," a tourist said.

"That is good. No people in the beach, and also it's clean," tourist Juan Paolo Sotto said.

"Gusto naming ma-experience, since 'pag bagong bukas maganda po siya," Filipino visitor Irene Elpedes said.

While many wanted to experience the rehabilitated island, only 157 hotels are currently accredited by the government to accept bookings.

"May nakakalusot pa rin. Pumupunta dito at nalalaman lang nila pagdating nila dito na 'yung hotel pala na nagbayad na sila ng 100 percent ay hindi pala nagbubukas," Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said.

WATCH: Nightlife is back in some bars in #Boracay @gmanews pic.twitter.com/RN7jzzdiPM

— Joseph Morong (@Joseph_Morong) October 27, 2018

The Boracay Inter-Agency Task Force said construction work will be finished by December.

"Nakakaubo, nakakasipon. Kailangang bilisan kaagad-agad," said tourist Maximo Capia.

While tourists are welcome in Boracay, casinos are not.

The Department of Justice has already recommended to President Rodrigo Duterte to issue an executive order implementing the no-casino policy on the island.

"Ang konsepto ng Boracay is a family, tipong family-oriented activities and not meant for foreigners or tourists who will come to Boracay, not to enjoy the place but to engage in gambling," Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said.

In accordance with the order of the President, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has requested Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) chair Andrea Domingo to cancel franchises and permits of casinos in Boracay.

"Last October 22, she issued a cease and desist order. We can say to all of you: No casino is now existing in Boracay island," DILG Secretary Eduardo Año said.

Now that the six-month rehabilitation of the island is finished, the government said it appears the temporary closure was good for the island.

There is now talk of closing the island for a month every year for healing.

"Tapatan nating 'yung Habagat na maulan para magkaroon tayo ng time to rehabilitate it again, let the island to have a natural healing," Año said.

"Is it going to be in phases or do they want to close perhaps? We are asking for, let's say how about two weeks?" said Fiona Molina, president of the Compliant Association of Boracay. —Jamil Santos/KG, GMA News