40,000 doses of Sinovac eyed in Boracay

 SOME 40,000 doses of Sinovac are expected to arrive soon in Boracay Island, Malay, Aklan, according to acting town mayor Floribar Bautista.

Bautista said in a phone interview that Dr. Leslie Ann Luces of the Provincial Health Office (PHO) announced this in a meeting with Boracay's stakeholders Saturday night, February 27, 2021, at La Carmela Resort.

Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque earlier announced that Covid-19 vaccines are expected to arrive in Manila anytime soon.

"The Sinovac will be used for tourism workers as recommended by the Department of Health," Bautista said.

The local government unit will start necessary preparations on Monday.

Bautista will be conducting a series of meetings among local government officials for the identification of vaccination sites and conduct of simulation exercises, among others.

"Already, the PHO has identified a cold storage facility in Kalibo for the vaccines. We also have in Barangay Sambiray subject to the assessment of the DoH," Bautista said.

The vaccination program is part of the preparations of the government to open Boracay to international tourists.

Meanwhile, Bautista has issued Executive Order (EO) Number 6 series of 2021, extending curfew hours in Boracay now from 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. Prior to the EO, the curfew in Boracay is from 11 pm to 5 am

Boracay still bars entry of foreigners

 The new UK variant that affected several returning overseas Filipino workers (OFW) has further delayed the plan of the province of Aklan in opening Boracay island to foreign tourists.

Expressing his concern, Aklan governor Florencio Miraflores said that this could mean that opening the island to foreign tourists may yet happen next year.

Earlier, the Department of Health has announced that some 62 Filipinos, many of whom were OFW, had been infected by the coronavirus variant in the country.

“If not for this new Covid-19 variant, the province is ready to accept foreign tourists. It could just be noted that since Boracay has opened to domestic tourists since last year, no tourists have acquired the Covid-19 after they travelled to Boracay,” he said.

Prior to the pandemic, Boracay has received numerous direct flights coming from China and South Korea via the Kalibo International Airport.

Currently, there are several foreign tourists that have been sighted on Boracay island, however, all of them have already been residing in the country for several years now.

Based from the records of the Malay tourism office from 1 to 20 February this year, Boracay has already recorded 11,278 tourist arrival, where some 7,200 of came from the National Capital Region.

Saliva testing for Boracay tourists pushed

 The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry-Western Visayas (PCCI-WV) is urging the Boracay Inter Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious (IATF-Boracay) Diseases to allow the saliva testing as a requirement of tourists entering the resort island.

In a copy of the draft resolution, the PCCI-WV said that saliva testing is cheaper compared to the real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction swab test currently being required. Results of the said testing method also has a shorter turnaround time of 3-4 hours compared to the 24 to 48 hours of the RT-PCR test.

Among those expected to sign the manifests were Ronald So, regional governor of PCCI-Western Visayas, Wesley Van Der Voort, president of PCCI-Boracay; Vicente Lagunday, PCCI-Antique; Ramel Buncalan, PCCI-Aklan; Engr. Dale Bernas of PCCI-Halaran Capiz; Neptune Pittman of Guimaras and Roberto Montelibano of the Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

“We thank and support you for the continuing and collective efforts to complete the rehabilitation of Boracay and the initiatives to boost the economic recovery of the Island,” the first part of the resolution reads.

“We would like the IATF Boracay to seriously review and consider, and if applicable and reliable, approve for the immediate use of the RT PCR saliva test as an alternative testing mode for Boracay,” the resolution said.

If the Boracay IATF approves the use of saliva testing, they will endorse the same to the national anti-coronavirus disease body a copy of which will be forwarded to the Department of Tourism, the Department of the Interior and Local Government, and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

Earlier, the local government of Malay also issued a resolution to use the saliva testing of the Philippine Red Cross in diagnosing Covid-19 among their residents to which includes Boracay.

Position Paper on Proposed BIDA Bill

 

Look: Presidential spokesman Harry Roque enjoys diving in Boracay Island.

 (video courtesy of Divegurus Boracay)

Aklan Shifts Focus

 KALIBO, Aklan — As the tourism industry here continues to suffer because of the Covid-19 pandemic, the provincial government shifted its focus on agriculture programs.

Provincial Board member Soviet Russia de la Cruz, chair of the Committee on Agriculture, said the health crisis made the public realize the importance of the sector.

“The Sanguniang Panlalawigan approved the budget for agriculture worth P30,248,864,” he said.

Among the covered programs are the establishment of the Aklan Grains Center and Aklan Agri-Aqua Demo Farm and Training Center.

"We want to boost Aklan’s agricultural productivity not only for the consumption of the residents but also of tourists in Boracay Island. For years, the province has been dependent on agricultural products coming from Davao, Baguio and other provinces to feed the tourists,” he said.

Put up quarantine facilities, Boracay hotels told

 

Hotels and establishments in Boracay Island have been ordered to establish their quarantine facilities after the recent case of three guests who entered the world-famous beach carrying fake Covid-19 swab test results.

Aklan Governor Florencio Miraflores included villages and local government offices in the order.

“Upon assessment of the health safety officer that a tourist is showing Covid-19 symptoms, he/she must be referred to the response team of the Ciriaco Tirol Hospital (in Boracay) for proper management,” he said.

Miraflores issued the executive order after the Provincial Health Office and Department of Tourism’s (DoT) report of three National Capital Region (NCR) tourists who presented negative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test results on 21 January.

They later turned out positive and are currently quarantined at Aklan Training Center.

A similar case occurred in December involving six guests.

Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo said Thursday those involved in tampered swab test results should be charged.

“Tampering of documents has criminal liability, including imprisonment,” Panelo said in his daily online program “Counterpoint.”

Those involved in tampering of test results endanger the lives of people in the island and those whom they meet while traveling, he added.

“You are bringing virus into the hotel and in other areas you visit like restaurants. If you want to die, you should spare the others,” Panelo added. “Local government units should strengthen the campaign against those involved in tampering of swab results.”

At least 30 tourists have attempted to enter Boracay using fake negative RT PCR test results since 6 December 2020.

A total of 11,898 tourists went to Boracay in January, 8,951 of them from the NCR.

Boracay hotel closes door due to Covid

 Another hotel in this resort island has been closed temporarily after one of its employees was infected with Covid-19.

In a copy of the memorandum sent by Aklan Governor Florencio Miraflores addressed to Sheryl Chan, general manager of the Hue Hotel the former said that the hotel be closed January 31-to 1 February.

“It is hereby Ordered the temporary stoppage of operation of Hue Hotel and Resort in Boracay Island for two days and subject the hotel to disinfection procedures.”

Acting Malay mayor Floribar Bautista also confirmed the temporary closure order.

The Hue hotel said in a statement that it is abiding by the said order and that the hotel is now undergoing disinfection procedures.

According to the Provincial Epidemiology Service Unit of the Provincial Health Office, Aklan, as of 31 January has registered 613 Covid-19 cases, of which, 20 died, 60 were active and the rest have recovered.