Non-beachfront parties allowed during 'Love Boracay'

Parties may still be staged to mark the Labor Day weekend in Boracay but these should be followed by a beach cleanup and other sustainable tourism activities, Undersecretary Benny Antiporda of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources said Monday.

In an interview with GMA News TV's News To Go, Antiporda said the beachfront will be off-limits for partying during 'Love Boracay', which is being organized instead of the Laboracay parties held in the past few years.

“Noon kasi, ang binibigyan ng importansiya, 'yung partying. Ngayon, meron pa rin namang parties, may art and music night, masaya pa rin, pero these parties will be inside the establishments, hindi roon sa beachfront,” Antiporda said.

“Tuwing magkakaroon kasi ng parties sa beachfront, nagkakaroon ng kalat..upos ng sigarilyo, bote ng alak, andiyan 'yung basura. Ngayon, may touch of concern na dapat sa environment,” Antiporda added.

The Love Boracay event will last for a week or until Wednesday, May 8.

As this developed, Antiporda also assured the public that the government will not tolerate violators of local ordinances in Boracay in light of the report by the Boracay Tourism Regulatory Enforcement Unit that Chinese tourists topped the list of violators (739 apprehensions), followed by Koreans (277 apprehensions).

“These are the litterbugs, 'yung nagtatapon ng sigarilyo, umiinom ng alak sa beachfront. Sila rin kasi 'yung may pinakamalaking number ng turista na dumarating sa Boracay. Kulang rin siguro tayo sa information drive, kaya iniisip namin na sa eroplano pa lang, nakalagay na ang mga bawal,” Antiporda said.

“Makikipagtulungan kami sa DOT (Department of Tourism) sa bagay na 'yan,” Antiporda added.

Likewise, Antiporda said Chinese who do business in Boracay without securing government permit will not be treated with kid gloves.

“Marami po roon may mga Chinese na tourist visa lang ang meron pero nagtitinda, may negosyo, gumagamit ng dummy na Filipino [owner]. Huwag po tayong mag-alala. Very vigilant po ang ating Boracay Interagency Task Force,” Antiporda added. —Llanesca T. Panti/KG, GMA News