Gov’t bats to ‘sustain gains’ during Boracay island reopening

“The past six months have been a difficult time for Aklan. The impact has been huge, but its now behind us,” he said. (File Photo: Department of Tourism – Philippines/Facebook)

BORACAY — Government authorities and stakeholders on Friday committed to bolster sustainable tourism as one of the world’s leading tourist destinations, Boracay Island, reopened its doors to the public on Friday.

“The reopening of Boracay is not just the culmination of our journey on sustainable tourism. Together, let us ensure that future generations, our children, our chlidren’s children, will still say that it’s more fun in the Philippines,” Department of Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said in a speech here during the formal reopening of Boracay.

Puyat said the tourism department will be sustaining the gains made during the six-month island closure, adding that “other countries were impressed with what we have done.”

Aklan Governor Florencio Miraflores, meanwhile, said “sacrifices had to be made” during the shutdown, but they were all “worth it.”

“The past six months have been a difficult time for Aklan. The impact has been huge, but its now behind us,” he said.

The Boracay Inter-agency Task Force has vowed to strengthen the implementation of environmental ordinances that will boost sustainable tourism in the island.

The task force has given green light to some 157 accommodation establishments to accept visitors.

Department of Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Roy Cimatu said the task force is continuously accepting applications for compliance of hotels and resorts that are not yet accredited.

Among the highlights during the island’s reopening program include the unveiling of a huge selfie wall, dubbed as the new “Boracay icon.”

Members of the “Kaligkasan” community multipliers group, which will augment government personnel in enforcing environmental ordinances in the island, also took their oath during the program.