28 cruise ship arrivals expected in Boracay in 2019

The Caticlan Jetty Port administrator is expecting at least 28 port calls by different cruise ship companies to visit Boracay in the year 2019.

Niven Maquirang, jetty port administrator said the number of port calls would boost the Boracay tourism industry next year.

"For the remaining part of 2018, we initially expect eight cruise ship visits. Four of them has already cancelled and another four has signified intention to push through with their visit," said Maquirang.

The four that cancelled already signified their interest to instead visit the island resort next year.

Cruise ships that are visiting Boracay only stay on the island for a few hours.

"This is part of the thrust of the Aklan provincial government to promote Boracay as a cruise ship destination. Aside from Boracay, we will also promote other tourism destinations in the province," added Maquirang.

If all 28 cruise ships arrive next year, that would be the highest number of cruise ship arrivals in the province.

The usual number of cruise ship arrivals in the province for the past several years only average at least 12 in a year.

Boracay companies start hiring employees for Oct. 26 reopening

Hotels and establishments in this resort island have started accepting applications for staff in time for the reopening of Boracay Island on October 26, the Provincial Employment Service Office (Peso) said.

Vivian Ruiz-Solano, head of the Peso-Aklan, said a job fair for hundreds of available posts for Boracay businesses was held on August 7.

“Prior to hiring staff, the companies must have a business permit from the local government of Malay. I had to turn down certain companies requesting for a job fair because they do not yet have a local permit,” Solano said.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources announced the opening of Boracay on October 26, six months after this resort island was closed to rehabilitate its environment. Other companies have also announced the availability of hundreds of positions for qualified employees from all over the country. One of the resorts, the Hennan Regency Resort and Spa-Boracay, announced it would be opening on October 27.

Errol Ledesma, an executive of the resort, said that interested applicants may send their resume through e-mail at errol@henann.com. Boracay residents can apply at their resort here from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. Rowen Aguirre, executive assistant of the local government of Malay, said there are still 500 companies in this resort island who are yet to comply with the necessary requirements or the reopening.

“These 500 companies were closed as members of the inter-agency task force visited their offices for inspection. The Department of the Interior and Local Government has given them until September 30 this year to comply with the requirements,” Aguirre said.

Among the requirements are business permits, fire and sanitation clearances, among others.

Lucio Tan’s ferry port terminal in Aklan to cater to Chinese, South Korean markets

The ongoing construction of a 120-hectare reclamation project of business magnate Lucio Tan will cater mostly to both Chinese and South Korean tourist market.

Aklan Gov. Florencio Miraflores said no less than Tan himself came to the provincial capitol of Kalibo to sign a memorandum of agreement with the Aklan provincial government.

The memorandum enables Tan to forge an agreement of public-private partnership (PPP) through his Mabuhay Maritime Express Transport Inc.

The company already started its construction at Barangay Pook, Kalibo. The PPP has three phases, which is the construction of a ferry port terminal, hotels and the business-process outsourcing terminal, Miraflores said.

Barangay Pook is where the Kalibo International Airport is located. Tan’s reclamation project is only a few meters away from the airport.

The terminal port area aimed to seamlessly transfer tourists coming from the Kalibo International Airport to Boracay Island.

The boat to be used will be a trimaran vessel type.

‘Boracay dengue cases may rise’

 Residents were warned of the possible increase of dengue cases in this island resort.

The Provincial Health Office (PHO) said the increase is likely due to the ongoing rehabilitation works in Boracay.

Rains brought about by the southwest monsoon have recently hit Western Visayas, including the famed beach destination which is now halfway into its six-month closure.

PHO head Dr. Cornelio Cuachon said rainwater might become stagnant in some areas in the island, which can turn into mosquito breeding grounds.

Dengue is a mosquito-borne viral infection causing a severe flu-like illness and sometimes a potentially lethal complication called severe dengue, according to the World Health Oerganization (WHO).

It is common in tropical countries like the Philippines.

The PHO has recorded a total of 39 cases of dengue in Malay, Aklan so far this year.

“We are focusing our concern in Barangay Manoc-manoc where six cases have been monitored in a span of a month,” said Cuachon.

He added that under the Health department guidelines, “we must be on alert if we monitor increasing cases of dengue in a barangay in one month.”

The PHO has yet to release data on the number of dengue cases in two other Boracay villages – Balabag and Yapak.

Aside from dengue, the PHO also warned Aklanon of leptospirosis.

“In June, a construction worker in Boracay died due to leptospirosis,” Cuachon said.

Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease that affects both humans and animals, WHO said.

Humans become infected through direct contact with the urine of infected animals or with a urine-contaminated environment.

The bacteria enter the body through cuts or abrasions on the skin, or through the mucous membranes of the mouth, nose and eyes./

DPWH applies modern road, drainage approach in Boracay

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is using
state-of-the-art technology to ensure quality of roads and rain water pipes in this
resort island.

Public Works Secretary Mark A. Villar said during his visit here on Wednesday the agency is applying a German technology that uses high-density polyethylene pipes (HDPPs) in road concreting.

“This is one of a kind. It is considered to last for a 100 years. It’s also enough to cater to future developments of Boracay,” Villar said.

Villar also announced it would temporarily close the Boracay main road for a month beginning August 2 to give way to the road rehabilitation of this resort island.

The first 4 kilometers of road to be rehabilitated is expected to cost P450 million. According to Villar, this initial allocation includes not only the concreting of roads but also the application of the HDPP technology. The road closures would affect those going to school.

Lucio Tan’s ferry port terminal in Aklan to cater to Chinese, South Korean markets

The ongoing construction of a 120-hectare reclamation project of business magnate Lucio Tan will cater mostly to both Chinese and South Korean tourist market.

Aklan Gov. Florencio Miraflores said no less than Tan himself came to the provincial capitol of Kalibo to sign a memorandum of agreement with the Aklan provincial government.

The memorandum enables Tan to forge an agreement of public-private partnership (PPP) through his Mabuhay Maritime Express Transport Inc.

The company already started its construction at Barangay Pook, Kalibo. The PPP has three phases, which is the construction of a ferry port terminal, hotels and the business-process outsourcing terminal, Miraflores said.

Barangay Pook is where the Kalibo International Airport is located. Tan’s reclamation project is only a few meters away from the airport.

The terminal port area aimed to seamlessly transfer tourists coming from the Kalibo International Airport to Boracay Island.

The boat to be used will be a trimaran vessel type.