No increase in Boracay’s carrying capacity, says DILG

MANILA, Philippines — Despite the influx of tourists to Boracay, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) is not recommending an increase in the carrying capacity of the island resort.

“Sa ating mga kababayan, pasensya na po kayo, pero ima-maintain po natin ‘yung 19,215 tourists carrying capacity ng Boracay Island, subject to review every three to five years,” DILG Undersecretary Epimaco Densing said in Wednesday’s Laging Handa public briefing.

(To our countrymen, we ask for your understanding but will be maintaining Boracay Island’s 19,215 tourist carrying capacity, subject to review every three to five years.)

“In the meantime, wala ho kaming irerekomendang pagbabago sa carrying capacity. Nandu’n pa rin tayo sa 19,215,” he added.

(In the meantime, we are not recommending any changes in the capacity. We are still at 19,215.)

Densing urged concerned authorities to limit tourist arrivals to 7,000 per day to avoid breaching the island’s carrying capacity.

“‘Wag na lang nila palampasin sa 6,000 to 7,000 arrivals daily para hindi lumampas ng 19,000 carrying capacity,” Densing said.

(Do not exceed 6,000 to 7,000 arrivals daily so it will not surpass the 19,000 carrying capacity.)

Should they breach the capacity, local officials will be issued with a show-cause order to explain the situation, the undersecretary warned.

Densing said tourist arrivals in Boracay last week have already gone down from 22,000 to 18,000.

He said that concerned agencies and the local government should monitor the situation to limit the number of travelers.

Based on data from the Malay municipal tourism office, Boracay’s tourist arrivals have hit its pre-pandemic level.