Boracay opens for Western Visayas Tourists on June 16th?

By Gil delos Santos

Is Western Visayas covid free yet?

I haven't seen a published guideline on how to accept WV tourist yet but I can assume that our government cannot afford to hold and have every single guest tested, wait for the result before they could be allowed in the island in realtime. This is the only measure I see that could work to avoid virus infection spread out in response to opening Boracay at this stage of the pandemic.

Learn the lesson of the "Balik Probinsya" Program. Let's not copy the "Balik Probinsya, hatid covid" junk. The intention was good but the measures are inefficiently carried out.

We understand that the economy has to somehow kick off. My bills even remain unpaid because my livelihood depends on tourism but I don't want to trade that at this point in time with Boracay opening on the 16th. The economy will die harder once infection starts or restarts in the island. It will trigger spread out to delay flattening the curve. We couldn't even reach the second wave before our economy dies itself if this happens because of wrong decisions. It is premature to open Boracay at this point of the pandemic unless Western Visayas is cleared to be covid free and the borders are sealed. Vaccine is all we need now.

For establishments eager to open doors for WV tourists, I wish Western Visayas people will be stupid enough to travel at this point of the pandemic to enjoy the habagat's wrath in Boracay to give you a good business.

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