This Week in Boracay and Iloilo (November 28 to December 4, 2021)

Public events are now allowed in Iloilo City at 50% capacity, as ordered by Mayor Jerry Treñas following the city’s updated quarantine status under Alert Level 2.

Mayor Treñas recently issued Executive Order No. 137, series of 2021, after the Inter-Agency Task Force placed Iloilo City under Alert Level 2 classification for the whole month of November.

Under the latest EO, the following are allowed at 50% capacity:

● Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, and Exhibitions (MICE);

● Visitor or tourist attraction;

● Recreational venues;

● Cinemas and movie houses;

● Limited face-to-face for higher education and technical-vocational courses;

● Licensure or qualifying exams;

● Barbershops, hair spas, hair salons, nail spas, and those offering cosmetic services;

● Fitness studios, gyms, and venues for non-contact exercise (subject to DTI protocols);

● Film, music, and television production; and

● Contact sports (only if participants are fully vaccinated). [1]

Also, following the news on waiving face shield requirements, Iloilo has decided to scrap the use of such. Mayor Treñas clarified a news source that while the face shield mandate is still in effect, the Iloilo City government will not implement such while waiting for the city council to finalize the suspension of the ordinance officially. [2]

Meanwhile, Boracay Island and the province of Aklan are placed under Alert Level 2.

Tourists of all ages coming from places under MECQ and GCQ quarantine status placed under Alert Level 4 can enter Boracay Island. Also allowed to enter are fully vaccinated individuals beyond 65 years old, fully vaccinated individual ages 12 years old and above, fully vaccinated individuals with comorbidities, fully vaccinated pregnant women, and children under 18 years as long as accompanied by an adult. [3]

Fully vaccinated tourists going to Boracay are no longer required to take RT-PCR tests. Boracay tourists only have to present a locally issued legitimate vaccination card or vaccination certificate. On the other hand, individuals before 12 years old are exempted from taking the test and need not present a vaccination card. All tourists who plan to visit Boracay are required to bring the following:

● Hotel booking at an accommodation accredited by the Department of Tourism

● Roundtrip airline ticket

● Proof of residency or government-issued ID

● Health declaration form to get a QR code (required when boarding a plane) [4]

Following these eased travel restrictions, Boracay Island now expects a travel rush of tourists from green countries since fully vaccinated foreigners from these green areas are now allowed to enter the Philippines without complying with the mandatory quarantine. However, these tourists are still required to comply with a negative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test result taken 72 hours before arrival from their country of origin.

In addition to this, countries considered as inbound markets of Boracay, namely Taiwan, Japan, India, Indonesia, Hong Kong, mainland China, and the United Arab Emirates, can also enter the country without complying with the mandatory quarantine. These tourists only need to show any proof of vaccination or a negative swab test result taken 72 hours before departure.

Boracay’s tourism economy is a significant factor in Aklan’s economy since travel has been temporarily deterred on the province because of the pandemic. The province and the island are bouncing back by opening their waters to domestic and international visitors.

News and updates of a more relaxed travel to Boracay don’t stop there. The Department of Tourism has also proposed to all local government units of Boracay to filter and simplify their local travel guidelines and requirements to aid leisure travelers’ concerns in traveling to the famous beach island. The DOT clarifies that the processing of travel requirements, restrictions, and other facilitations regarding travel of domestic and international tourists falls under the local government unit’s jurisdiction. The DOT believes that simplifying travel requirements has a significant impact on recovering the island’s tourism and economy. [5]

With Iloilo City’s downgrade to Alert Level 2 status, economic and leisure activities are now resuming, but wearing face masks is still a must, according to Mayor Treñas. Active cases are dropping, and the vaccination rate is rising. But Treñas believes that residents must still observe health protocols, such as wearing face masks.

Active cases in Western Visayas have significantly dropped to 4,898 from more than 16,000 as of November 21. [6]

Iloilo Province is optimistic that they will reach herd immunity by the end of the year. However, Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. said they would need more staffing and equipment to achieve it. According to Defensor, there are challenges encountered when it comes to the encoding and transmission of data. Currently, hiring doctors, nurses, nursing attendants, and more encoders is ongoing. Mayors have also agreed to designate their scholars as encoders.

According to Defensor, achieving herd immunity before the year ends is only through vaccination since this is the only strategy to protect everyone against the virus. [7]

Residents and shoppers can now head to SM City Iloilo for a shopping spree on November 26 – 30 for the Payday Specials Sale. You can now shop in advance for Christmas presents for your friends, families, and colleagues since the mall is giving away shopping discounts up to 50% off. SM City has many sales offers up for grabs, just in time for your Christmas shopping this year.

Visit Yoorekka Magazine for more travel and COVID-19 updates and guidelines in Boracay and Iloilo!