Business booming in Boracay, DOT chief says

MANILA, Philippines — The tourism industry in Boracay is booming a year after its closure.

As this developed, Chinese establishments have been observed to have sprouted since the island reopened.

According to Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, her department has accredited over 300 accommodation establishments after the six-month rehabilitation of Boracay.

“Our accreditation process is still ongoing for those that are still non-compliant,” Puyat told The STAR. 

Boracay was closed to tourists on April 26, 2018 and was reopened on Oct. 26, 2018 after it underwent rehabilitation due to environmental problems.  

Puyat said everything was done according to plan, including road repairs and drainage systems.

“The DENR (Department of Environment and Natural Resources) has done an excellent job in reducing the coliform level from more than a million down to under safe standard levels,” she added.  

She also emphasized that the 19,215 limit for visitors is being maintained since it was reopened.

Asked for her thoughts about the mushrooming of Chinese business establishments on Boracay after its reopening in October, Puyat replied: “Negative on any foreign or domestic tourists that do not follow the law.” 

 The Chinese businesses are reportedly turning away non-Chinese customers in restaurants, and menus are written in Chinese characters.

There are also allegations that Chinese workers are illegally employed by the establishments.

The Boracay Interagency Task Force said it will discuss issues surrounding Chinese businesses operating on the island amid complaints and observations by tourists and residents alike.

At a press conference on Thursday at the Paradise Garden Resort in Boracay Island, Interior and Local Government Undersecretary Epimaco Densing III said they will form an ad hoc committee to look into these issues.

The committee will be composed of the local government of Malay, Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE),  Department of Justice through the Bureau of Immigration, Department of Trade and Industry and the general manager of the management committee of the task force.

“The committee will look into what is true (about) the permits and licenses of these establishments,” Densing said.