DOT-accredited rooms in Boracay near 13,000 mark

MANILA, Philippines — The number of accredited accommodation establishments in Boracay has been increasing, the Boracay Inter Agency Task Force (BIATF) said in its latest bulletin.

Based on the updated list, six more establishments with a total of 31 rooms have been cleared to operate by the BIATF.

This brings the total accredited number of rooms to 12,907.

Only accommodation establishments that have complied with the requirements of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the DOT are allowed to operate in the island destination.

Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat earlier said the BIATF would continue to accredit compliant accommodation establishments.

“More rooms will be available as we continue with Phase 2 and 3 of the Boracay rehabilitation. We are making sure the task force’s requirements are complied with 100 percent,” Puyat said.

The task force urged the public to avoid booking with establishments that have no permits from the DOT, DENR and DILG.

Before the island’s closure in April 2018, Boracay had roughly 15,000 to 16,000 available rooms.

The government is limiting the number of tourists in Boracay to ensure the sustainability of the island, which was reopened in October last year after it was closed for rehabilitation for six months.

A study commissioned by the DENR showed that Boracay’s carrying capacity is only 55,757 people per day, including its residents. Only 19,215 tourists are allowed to be on the island at a certain time, with 6,405 tourists allowed to enter the island per day.

Puyat said the DOT is looking to add more block off dates for the entry of cruise ships to Boracay, in a bid to ensure the carrying capacity of the island is met.

The DOT earlier emphasized that there was no entry of cruise ships to Boracay Island since the start of the close out dates from April 16. This ban will last until May 31, 2019.

“The close out dates for cruise ships were set to manage the carrying capacity of island, as there is an expected surge in tourist arrivals during the Holy Week and summer time,” the DOT earlier said.

It added it will also implement more close out dates within the year particularly on Oct. 26 to November in observance of All Saints and All Souls Day, and on Nov. 23 to Jan. 25 for the SEA Games, Christmas and the New Year.

Puyat said the agency may list Aug. 24 to 26 as block off dates in line with the celebration of National Heroes Day since many tourists are expected to flock to Boracay due to the long weekend.

She said the good thing about these block off dates is that cruise ships are diverted to lesser known destinations in the country such as Ilocos Norte and Sur, Subic and
Iloilo, among others.