The Department of Tourism (DOT) on Tuesday said the local government unit (LGU) in charge of overseeing Boracay should monitor the number of tourists entering the destination after it recently went over its carrying capacity.
Boracay has a capacity of about 19,000 local tourists a day, according to DOT Secretary Bernadette Puyat, but it recently went over 21,000 to 22,000 recently.
"Ngayon pang may COVID so nakakabahala talaga, although ang swerte naman nila kasi pinabakunahan naman natin lahat ng mga tao doon sa Boracay," Puyat told DZRH in an interview.
(It happens amid COVID so it is really concerning. Although they are lucky because we vaccinated everyone in Boracay.)
"Pero kailangan 'yung ating LGU, 'yung governor, at 'yung mayor dapat tinitignan nila ito," she added. "May COVID pa, kaya kailangan talagang mag-ingat."
(The LGU, the governor and the mayor should be looking at this. COVID is still here that's why we need to be careful.)
According to the secretary, the LGU should not have a problem in monitoring the tourists entering the destination because they are providing QR codes for people coming in.
Meanwhile, she also said they have seen pictures of tourists in the destination who are not complying to minimum public safety and health protocols, specifically on mask-wearing.
"Kailangan nagtutulungan ang national government, ang local government, at mga turista na sundan natin yung minimum health and safety protocols para hindi tayo magka-surge kasi ngayon palang tayo bumabawi at nagkakatrabaho," she said.
(The national government, the local government, and tourists should be working together to comply with minimum health and safety protocols to prevent a surge because we are still recovering.)
According to Puyat, Secretary of the Interior and Local Government Eduardo Año will be issuing a warning to the authorities in charge of overseeing Boracay ensure compliance in the future.
"Nagpapasalamat kami kay Secretary Año. Magi-issue na siya ng warning kasi klaro naman may carrying capacity at dapat sundan 'yun lalo na ngayon may COVID."
(We thank Secretary Año. He will issue a warning because it is clear that there is a carrying capacity and it needs to be followed especially amid COVID.)
The surge of local tourists across various destinations came as the government eased COVID-19 restrictions, which came in time for the dry season and the Holy Week break.
