Vendors feel pinch of Boracay closure

NO MORE TOURISTS Only a few shops remain open at Boracay’s D’Mall as tourists leave the island to pave the way for a six-month rehabilitation. —LYN RILLON

BORACAY ISLAND, Aklan — Market vendors are also being hit hard by the closure of Boracay Island to tourists.

Fish, fruit and vegetable vendors at Talipapa Bukid, the main market on the island, have complained of drastic drop in sales since April 26, the start of the six-month closure and rehabilitation of the island. Residents and hotels, resorts and restaurants in Boracay get their daily food supply from Talipapa Bukid.

A “bangus” (milkfish) vendor said his daily sales dropped from the usual P10,000 to P4,000 on Saturday and P3,500 on Sunday.

“Even if I don’t take a noon break, my sales are still down,” said the vendor, who asked not to be named because he did not want to publicly express his sentiments against the abrupt closure of the island to tourists.

Minimizing losses

A vegetable vendor said that before April 26, their supply of vegetables would be sold out before the end of the day. Now, they could only sell half.

Many commercial establishments on the island stopped operations to minimize losses. Others demolished structures occupying beach and road easements.

Along the 5.2-kilometer main road, owners of establishments and houses were demolishing structures to comply with the 12-meter road easement.

The establishments include big and popular resorts, including the Willy’s Beach Hotel at Station 1, which started demolishing part of its structure facing the main road on Monday.

Those that remained open would close early and offered limited menus catering to residents.

Cash-for-work

At night, along the beach at Station 2, the heart of Boracay’s night life, patches of light could be seen in bars and restaurants that remained open but with much fewer guests.

During the day, displaced workers availed of the cash-for-work program of the Department of Labor and Employment.

They were paid P323.50 per day for a maximum of 30 days for cleaning the beach and alleys.

“We can’t choose what kind of work we get. What is important is we get something to help us cope with the situation,” said Jonelyn Itulid, 32, of Balabag village.