DENR: Not all parties to be banned when Boracay reopens

The government is not banning all parties on Boracay Island when it reopens on Oct. 26, contrary to an infographic being circulated that specify activities prohibited on the resort island.

In a press statement, Sherwin Rigor, undersecretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), said tourists may still hold parties if these were done indoors and not on the beach.

Rigor said the prohibitions on certain activities and structures were meant to protect the beaches and maintain the pristine quality of the sand, which is Boracay’s top-selling feature.

New regulations

The DENR has been laying down new regulations ahead of the reopening of the island following its six-month closure and rehabilitation.

Rigor said tourists may still enjoy parties, grilling and other activities on the island, if these were done indoors or in areas away from the beach.

Also disallowed on the beach are the construction of platforms for stage shows and the setting up of tables, chairs, massage beds, beach umbrellas, souvenir shops and food stalls.

Electrical fixtures, such as lightings and wirings, will also be removed and banned from the beachfront vegetation area and within the 30-meter easement area or “no-build zone,” Rigor said.

Prohibitions

He said the prohibitions would be imposed along the famed White Beach Stations 1, 2 and 3, as well as Puka, Ilig-Iligan and Bulabog beaches.

Environment Undersecretary Benny Antiporda also disputed the contents of the infographic that had been circulating online called “New Boracay Do’s and Don’ts,” which claimed that grilling meat would be prohibited.

“This is not true. The [Boracay Inter-Agency Task Force] does not prohibit such,” he said.

Designated zones

The task force is also looking at setting up designated zones for ambulant vendors instead of allowing them to roam around, approaching tourists and possibly disturbing them.

Rigor said businesses like bars and restaurants would also be urged to install sound insulation systems to minimize noise pollution on the island.

Antiporda said water sports, paraw-sailing and other related activities were only temporarily suspended while the government, through the Biodiversity Management  Bureau, and partner organizations conducted an assessment of the marine ecosystems in Boracay.

He said the DENR was expecting the results of the assessment before Oct. 26.