This Week in Boracay (October 6 to 12, 2018)

It will be sunny throughout the week on the island. This is great news for it will allow construction works to push through without further delay. It would also be the perfect time for locals to enjoy the beach all for themselves. Amihan (northeast monsoon) season is also back, so the waves will be flat and perfect for swimming at the White Beach. With a maximum temperature of 30 °C, a sunblock will also be necessary [1]. A humid weather can also be expected in the evening with an average temperature of 24 °C.

Construction of the island’s main road network is still ongoing this week. The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is finishing portions of the main road that was closed during the six months rehabilitation [2]. The agency aims to finish at least 2 kilometers of the 4.1-kilometer road that is part of the rehabilitation project. Aside from the main road, the new road in Bulabog which is part of the island’s circumferential road will also be completed by October. It will serve as alternate route for easier travel to hotels near Mt. Luho and Barangay Yapak.

Once it opens, the number of tourists entering Boracay each day will still be limited to only 6,405 and 19,215 at any given time based on the island’s carrying capacity. To ensure that visitors will be within the capacity, the Department of Tourism is also eyeing to cut the number of flights via Caticlan Airport and Kalibo International Airport [3]. In media interviews, DOT Secretary Bernadette Puyat said initial talks with different airlines have been done already.

To ensure the water quality of the island, the Department of Natural Resources (DENR) has required establishments to either have their own sewage treatment plants (STPs) or to connect to a sewer network [4]. Beachfront establishments and those with over 40 rooms anywhere in the island are required to have their own STPs, while those with 39 rooms and below are meanwhile required to connect to a sewer network. The new guidelines aim to ensure that wastewater will be treated and also to prevent illegal discharges to the beach.

Before the rest of the world could experience Boracay again, people from Aklan, Iloilo, Capiz, and Antique can already have a glimpse of new face of the island starting October 15 to 25 [5]. However, only 1,000 rooms will be allowed to operate on October 15, and another 1,000 the next day [6]. The dry run is set by the task force to ensure the quality of the sewerage system and water quality. Tourists can also only stay at compliant establishments. Before going, they must also secure first a reservation. Compliant establishments will all be allowed to open starting October 26.

After six months of rehabilitation, new policies will also be implemented on the island once it reopens. The guidelines include a ban on fire dancing activities and the use of kerosene gas and gas lamps along the beach. Beach beds used for massage services will also be prohibited. Tourists also need to wait for a while before they can try watersports activities, including diving. Big parties, smoking, and drinking along the beach will also be prohibited. Also part of the new policy is the banning of casinos and online gambling in the island [7].