Boracay security tightened

 Security in this resort island has been tightened to ensure the safety of tourists this Yuletide and possibly until the summer vacation next year.
Lieutenant Junior Grade Edison Diaz, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Caticlan chief, said tourists should expect long lines at the port because of the tightened security measures.
Tourists are now obliged to sign a manifesto before the boat leaves to and from Boracay. The strict implementation creates a bottle neck of tourists falling in line in boarding the motor boat.
Tourists are also strictly required to wear lifejackets during the trip.
“We are requiring tourists to follow our strict implementation for proper accountability of each passengers going to and from Boracay. I am implementing these tightened security measures as long as I am the head of PCG-Caticlan,” he said./

Incoming 2016, a good year for Boracay cruise tourism

The Aklan provincial government considers the incoming year 2016 to be a good year for cruise ship tourism in this resort island with a vessel bringing the biggest number of tourists onboard so far.

Niven Maquirang, Caticlan jetty port administrator, said that a Celebrity Cruise Ship is expected to bring in more than 2, 000 tourists coming from all over the world in Boracay by 2016.

Maquirang announced this to the local media covering the plaque exchanging ceremony on the arrival of the M/S Silver Shadow Cruise Tuesday afternoon in Boracay island.

The said cruise ship carried more than 400 tourists with crew members.

"We thank the Department of Tourism for promoting Boracay along with Metro Manila and Palawan as a cruise ship tourism destination of the Philippines in South East Asia," said Maquirang.

The Jetty Port administration said that around 10 cruise ships visit Boracay every year.

Different cruise ship companies have decided on embarking in Boracay journey because this resort island is famous all over the world.

Former DoT Secretary urges domestic tourists appreciation

Former Department of Secretary  Richard 'Dick' Gordon has urged the national government to further enhance domestic tourism to boost the country's economic growth.

Gordon was here recently during the symbolic opening of shelter sites of the Philippine Red Cross in nearby New Washington town.

"There are 55 million Filipinos travelling around the country. I hope the national government will continue to make programs to encourage more Filipinos to travel," he said.

Gordon also urged the DOT to take on pro-active measures against several national peace and order concerns.

Aklan vice gov worried about ‘laglag-bala’ incidents at NAIA

 Aklan vice governor Gabrielle Calizo-Quimpo is confident the current investigation into the “laglag-bala” issue at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) can be solved immediately.
She believes, however, it may have a long-term effect in the country’s tourism industry.
“I have heard from the news that the national government is now on top of the situation. I just hope that tourists coming in the country are always on alert with what is going on,” said Quimpo.
Currently, the Department of Tourism is checking with different resorts here if there were reported cancellations of hotel rooms due to the “laglag-bala” issue.
Recently, a Filipina tourist bound for Boracay was apprehended at the NAIA after fell victim to the scam.

Two fall in Boracay drug bust

Two suspected drug pushers were arrested here recently.
Police identified the suspects as Adrian Timbang, 26, of Lubao, Pampanga and Rose Ann Gajila, 22, of Romblon.
Joint elements from the Boracay police, Malay police and Aklan Provincial Illegal Drugs Task Group conducted a sting operation against the suspects.
Seized during the operation were six sachets of suspected shabu, drug paraphernalia and marked money.
The suspects were brought to Kalibo, Aklan.