Boracay, Malay town ban tourists amid enhanced COVID-19 quarantine

ILOILO CITY –– Tourists have been barred entry from Boracay Island and the rest of Malay town in Aklan amid the tightening of quarantine measures against COVID-19.

In an executive order effective Thursday, Acting Malay Mayor Frolibar Bautista declared a general quarantine and imposed a curfew from 10 p.m. to 5 p.m. Movement of people will be limited to accessing basic necessities and work.

Only workers and residents of Malay and those born in the town will be allowed entry. Those coming from areas with COVID-19 cases are mandated to undergo a 14-day quarantine.

Physicians, employees of national government agencies, municipal and barangay officials and employees are exempted from the restriction.

Also exempted are persons involved in the delivery of goods and commodities but they will not be allowed to disembark from their vehicle and mingle with locals.

Even before the quarantine measure, Boracay Island, the country’s prime tourist destination, has been largely empty of tourists.

The island-resort has not fully recovered from a six-month closure from April 26 to October 25, 2018, when it had to undergo rehabilitation.

Edited by LZB