This Week in Boracay (April 22 to 28, 2018)

It will be a hot week for Boracay, literally and figuratively. The summer heat would be felt on the island this week with a maximum of 31 °C and minimum of 28 °C. This weather is a good reason for locals and tourists alike to enjoy the beach and the activities on the island before the 26th; during the temporarily closure, even locals have to say goodbye to all water activities. However,they will still be allowed to swim in Station 1 of the White Beach.

As part of its rehabilitation plan, Boracay will soon have a 12-meter wide main road. To make it possible, all establishments within 6-meters from the center of the road are removed. A lot of sidewalks were also opened for drainage cleanup, so pedestrians will have to walk along the streets. As a result of the ongoing demolition in line with road widening and the opening of drainage networks, heavy traffic is to be expected.

With the closure of Boracay, some airlines started to divert their flights to other destinations in the country. Most of these are less-known destinations in Visayas and Mindanao that can cater to tourists. For instance, Philippine Airlines will prepare additional flights to and from Manila to Iloilo, Puerto Princesa, Cebu, Bacolod, Dumaguete, and Cagayan de Oro.

While most establishments will remain open, a big chunk of their manpower will be forced to go on leave. Thousands of workers will be losing their jobs because of the closure, from registered workers who work in companies to those from the informal sector, such as tricycle drivers, massage therapists, and boatmen. To lessen the burden of the workers, the national government offered jobs for some. A series of job fairs was also conducted prior to the closure. Starting April 26, a series of livelihood and skills training will also be offered to workers who will be displaced.

Locals and those against the proposed new casino in Boracay can breathe a sigh of relief. In a recent press briefing, the Department of Tourism confirmed that Macau Galaxy is now looking for another venue to build their casino hotel.

Even prior to the closure, major cleanup activities have been done in the island, one of which is the cleanup of the drainage. Due to this, an improved water quality in the island has been reported.