This Week in Boracay (August 17 to 23, 2019)

The sun is finally back after some weeks of rain [1]. This week, island visitors can finally enjoy the beach or go sunbathing. With 30 °C maximum temperature throughout the week, you'll surely enjoy a long swim. Since it is still habagat (southwest monsoon) season however, expect strong winds at the White Beach with bigger waves. Boat trips from Caticlan Port may also be transferred to Tabon Port because of habagat. This is also the period when waves at the other side of the island, particularly in Puka Beach, are calmer. And while Puka Beach doesn’t have fine sands like the White Beach, its shoreline is filled with crushed Puka shells.

Residents of the island are urging authorities to ensure the safety of everyone on the island including tourists amid the ongoing road rehabilitation. Some concerned residents submitted a letter of appeal to the Boracay Inter-Agency Task Force [2]. In the letter, the residents stated that they support the ongoing road rehabilitation but are appealing to authorities to put necessary precautions along the road being rehabilitated to avoid accidents. As stated in the letter, the residents claimed that there have been “multiple incidents where people have gotten injured while walking, with motorbikes falling, flat tires and e-trikes stuck in deep puddles of water.” Currently, the task force is implementing the second phase of the rehabilitation which includes the road widening from Elizalde Compound to City Mall in Barangay Balabag.

Boracay visitors now have seven additional options of where to stay during their visit [3]. The seven hotels were already given a go signal to operate after complying with the requirements set by the task force. In total, there are already 372 establishments on the island that are allowed to operate which comprises 13,207 rooms according to an advisory from the Department of Tourism. Meanwhile, the task force is eyeing for 100 percent compliance among resorts and hotels on the island.

Following an incident where a tourist was seen letting her child defecate on the beach, the task force for Boracay will step up its efforts in informing about the do’s and don’ts of the island [4]. The task force is intensifying campaigns against littering as well as urinating, defecating, or spitting in public places. Due to the incident, authorities also suggested installing more restrooms and portable toilets along the 4-kilometer White Beach and other parts of the island. Authorities are meanwhile investigating the incident to identify the tourist involved in the incident. The task force likewise assured that the water quality in the island is still within standards.

Traveling to Boracay anytime soon? Visit Yoorekka to be in the know about the latest travel updates of the island.