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Open minds, open Boracay

By Gil delos Santos

I am a government employee but not the government. If politicians can criticize their fellow politician; as a citizen, I have the right not to remain silent too. 

We understand that every community quarantine status has its provisions on travels basing on the Omnibus Guideline of the IATF-EID. But where that GCQ with "heightened restrictions" come from? 

The palace complains that the country is running short of fund already. Boracay is just there with the biggest potential to stir the economy back. Why can't the government take the decision to make it work? This department of tourism under the leadership of Ms. Puyat makes a lot of advertisements about the beautiful places of the Philippines to visit (with millions of pesos budget per video production) but do nothing to make it full accessible for tourists. 

Yes, it was me who posted on the Malay Tourism Page that NCR+ travellers can now start to check with airlines for flight availability after NCR declared GCQ in the first few minutes, only to find out a couple of minutes later the conditions of the "heightened restrictions". At least sumikat din tayo sa office nila in the shadow of Malay Tourism Office - calling our attention to correct/revise the post. I would not mind getting face to face to present your office's inability to protect the tourism sector that you lead. 

Let the health department do their work to address safety, please do your own work how to explore possibilities to maximize the Philippines' tourism output. Buti kayo may output ang trabaho o wala, limpak ang kita every 15th and 30th of the month. Paano naman ang mental health ng mga tao sa NCR+ at karatig nito na gusto na mag beach dahil sobrang kulong na sila sa city? Paano ang mga Boracaynon at iba pa na umaasa sa turismo na gutom na gutom at halos nawawalan na ng pag asa? 

Malacañang, dahil ba sa paghihigpit nyo sa movement ng tao, zero covid na ba tayo? Isolated ang isla ng Boracay at pwedeng pwede gawan ng bubble for travellers...but not by the stupid point-to-point concept. Nang iinsulto ba kayo sa common na Pilipino? Charter flight to Boracay? Only if I can interact on zoom meetings with the authorities and DOT. Our local leaders, let's not be soft to give smiles to the higher authorities to make it look like we're ok. We are not! We can be strong that Boracay needs to be open and accessible especially for travellers na nakakulong sa cities...consider their mental health...and the stomach of the hungry tourism dependent people at the other end. 

Ito, baka pwede nyo ma explore possibility ng point-to-point from GCQ/MGCQ areas using non-GCQ/MGCQ airport as the gateway to Boracay. At di na need mag certify ng point-to-point establishment sa isla, naka bubble na nga eh. 

Sabi ng isang nag comment, "napakadamot nyo sa dagat na hindi naman sa inyo". DOT secretary Bernadette Puyat, hear his words...feel his agony. 

Nagpapa-pansin, 

Gil delos Santos
Boracaynon, Tourism Advocate

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