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Boracay establishments will strictly follow health protocols when it reopens on June 16, Puyat assures


Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat on Monday assured that hotels and other establishments in Boracay will strictly follow health protocols as it reopens to tourists from Western Visayas provinces starting Tuesday, June 16.

Interviewed on Dobol B sa News TV, Puyat said local authorities will ensure that employees and tourists will observe physical distancing, wearing of face masks and face shields. There will also be frequent temperature checks and sanitation.

Arriving tourists will have to sign health declaration forms, Puyat added.

There will also be QR code scanners for the health declaration forms for contactless transactions, she added.

“Very impressed ako sa ginagawa ng Boracay ngayon kasi talagang yung pinakita nila, contactless, walang hinahawakan,” Puyat said.

She added that the hotels and establishments that will operate were inspected and accredited by the Department of Tourism.

Puyat also assured that the hotels will follow the health standards of the Department of Health and the World Health Organization.

Earlier, the Boracay Inter-agency Task Force said Boracay is ready to receive local tourists anew, after it was placed under modified general community quarantine.

Those above 60 years old and below 21, however, are still not allowed to travel to the tourist destination.

“Gusto lang daw muna nila Western Visayas kasi parang ida-dry run muna nila at anyway daw ‘yong mga tiga Western Visayas, modified GCQ naman daw sila so puwede na sila pumunta Boracay,” Puyat said.

She also said the department will still talk to local officials in two weeks to discuss when the island will open to tourists from other parts of the country

Meanwhile, Malay, Aklan acting mayor Frolibar Bautista said not all hotels will operate because some have not yet received their certificate of authority to operate from the DOT.

Bautista added the reopening of the island will be of great help to them.

“Kailangan na kasi ang Malay, sa Boracay, dependent kami sa tourists. ‘Pag wala kaming turista, wala kaming income kaya kailangan na rin naming makapag-operate,” he said.

Bautista also ensured that minimum health protocols will be strictly observed and there will be a two-meter distance between tourists swimming in the beach.

A maximum of two persons per room will also be implemented in hotels, he said.

As part of their monitoring, Bautista also said there will be a separate entrance for workers, residents and tourists.

So far, Boracay has remained free of COVID-19 and has allowed swimming among residents in the beginning of June— Ma. Angelica Garcia/LA, GMA News

Tags: boracay
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