Too many tourists flock Boracay

CEBU – Interior Secretary Eduardo Año has warned the provincial government of Aklan and the municipal government of Malay following the huge number of tourists who arrived in Boracay Island during the Holy Week, saying there were documented violations of the island resort’s capacity for tourists.

The Boracay Inter-Agency Task Force composed of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of the Interior and Local Government and Department of Tourism, set the capacity of the island daily tourists’ arrival at 19,215 to ensure the ecological sustainability of the pristine island and prevent the spread of Covid-19. 

“Hindi tayo magdadalawang-isip na mag-issue ng SCO (show cause order) sa mga opisyal ng LGU (local government unit) na magsasawalang-bahala sa mga umiiral na kautusan sa isla ng Boracay. We cannot go back to square one especially now that we are still in the middle of a pandemic. Our efforts to rehabilitate and reverse the ecological degradation of the island will all be futile if we become negligent in complying with the guidelines set by National Government,” Año said. 

He urged the provincial and municipal governments which have direct authority over Boracay to intensify efforts and strictly observe the number of tourists allowed daily in the island which is 19,215. 

Año said failure of the provincial and municipal governments to comply with the recommended daily threshold may cause environmental risks and may even reverse the accomplishments of the government in rehabilitating Boracay Island. 

The warning was an offshoot of a letter sent by Tourism Secretary Bernadette Puyat to Año, saying Boracay Island tourist arrivals for Maundy Thursday reached 21,252 and 22,519 on Good Friday which are way above the Island’s limit. 

Puyat also appealed to Año and Environment Secretary Jim Sampulna to initiate appropriate actions regarding the violations and urged for the strict implementation of the public safety and health protocols because of the Covid-19 pandemic. 

“We must draw the line to ensure that our policies are being complied with on the ground. Kung kailangang mag-issue ng SCO para sa mga paglabag ay iyan po ang gagawin ng aming Kagawaran,” Año said. 

Malay Acting Mayor Frolibar Baustista branded as “normal” the huge number of tourists arriving in Boracay Island. But Año disagreed with the mayor. “Hindi ito normal, ito ay paglabag sa umiiral na polisiya. Noong 2018 pa lamang at wala pang pandemya, itinakda na natin kung ano ang kapasidad ng Boracay, kung gaano karami lamang ang puwedeng tanggapin na turista ng isla,” he said. 

Año ordered all DILG regional offices to closely monitor the compliance of local governments and to report any violations of tourism-related implementations and Covid-19 policies and health protocols. 

President Rodrigo Duterte previously ordered the rehabilitation of Boracay Island and other tourist destinations to promote sustainable tourism. He signed Executive Order No. 53 in May 2018 creating the Boracay Inter-Agency Task Force to oversee the rehabilitation project. Boracay Island was eventually closed and reopened six months later following a massive clean-up and rehabilitation. (Cebu Examiner)