Boracay tourists urged use of Aklan QR code

 The provincial government of Aklan on Wednesday announced that it is still urging tourists going to Boracay to use the Aklan QR Code amid the availability of another system known as the S-Pass.

The S-Pass is a travel management system that was recently approved for use by the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID).

According to Aklan Governor Florencio Miraflores, tourists are already aware of the use of the QR Code and noted the convenience it brings to the province on maintaining the local management system.

The S-Pass, on the other hand, was developed by the Department of Science and Technology (DoST) for the use of the locally stranded individuals (LSI) and travelers as a contact tracing system during the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.

“Right now, we already perfected the Aklan QR Code and our validating teams are now quick in their response time for tourists wanting to go to Boracay,” Miraflores said.

A tourist going to Boracay must register at the QR code found at the website of www.aklan.gov.ph and after accomplishing the forms, tourists should email it to the province and wait for validation.

Upon validation, tourists must present the copy along with the negative swab test and hotel bookings at the Caticlan Jetty Port.

Meantime, Engr. Rowen Gelonga, regional director of the DoST in Western Visayas, said they have already started introducing the S-Pass system among the several local government units (LGU) in the region including the province of Aklan.

“Each local government will be given an account of the S-Pass. Their personnel will be trained on how to use this. This way, the LGU will be able to maximize the use of the S-Pass,” Gelonga said.

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.