What to expect during Boracay island closure?

ILOILO CITY, Philippines — A day before Boracay Island will temporarily close its door to visitors, different government agencies did a walkthrough on what to expect during the 6-month shutdown.

On April 23 (Monday), members of the Police Regional Office-6, together with the Metro Boracay Police Task Force (MBPTF), led the demonstration at the Caticlan Jetty Port on how residents, workers, and other personnel will go about the process of entering the island on April 26, the day the closure starts.

"Everything is all set," Binag said pointing to hundreds of policemen deployed to maintain peace and order for the duration of the closure. He said the walkthrough was organized in order for the people to be oriented of the systems, procedures, and protocols in the implementation of the guidelines for the closure.

On the same day, desks from different governments agencies were already set up at the Caticlan port to address querries from residents and workers.

Aside from the police, manning the different desks were personnel from the: Bureau of Immigration; Department of Environmental and Natural Resources; Department of Labor and Employment; Department of Transportation; Department of Tourism; Department of Social Welfare and Development; Department of the Interior and Local Government; Department of Public Works and Highways; and the local government unit of Malay town of Aklan.

After the briefing at the Caticlan Jetty Port, Binag toured the outer and inner border control points outside and inside the island to see the actual deployment of personnel. The group went to Cagban Port, the only entry point for residents and workers. Binag also checked Boracay Island's Station 1, particularly Willy's Rock, the designated swimming area for residents.

During the closure, PRO-6 and other law-enforcement agencies will implement the "one entry, one exit" and the "no ID, no entry" policies and other laws to ensure a peaceful, orderly and fast rehabilitation, and delivery of social services in the island. “We have everything covered and we are ready," Binag declared.

PRO-6 has tasked MBPTF to take over the security concerns during the Boracay Island's closure period. Through this time, residents will be allowed to enter the island from 6 a.m. 10 p.m. through the Cagban Jetty Port, the only available access point to the island for the residents, according to Niven Maquirang, Caticlan Port administrator.

"We have given residents until 10 p.m. to enter the island because some of them came all the way from Kalibo town. They might not be able to make it back to the island if we set it an earlier time," he added. But if residents arrive after the 10 p.m., they will have to wait the next day to enter," Maquirang said.

On the other hand, workers and cargoes will be allowed entry from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Maquirang classified cargoes, as consumable and construction materials, which could be loaded at the Sambiray Port in Malay and unloaded at Manoc-Manoc.

Basically, Maquirang said that the time given for residents to enter the island is also the usual plying time of passenger pumpboats. Workers could go out of the island beyond the 6 p.m., he added.

Meanwhile, Binag yesterday reacted to some negative reactions on a simulation exercise (SIMEX) PRO-6 conducted in Boracay Island yesterday, or two days ahead of the island's closure to tourists.

Aside from the police, other participants in the SIMEX were the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), the Philippine Navy, and the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP). They simulated a protest action, a terrorist attack, and a hostage-taking incident.

Binag said it was already the fourth SIMEX done in Boracay shores since last year. Similar exercise should be done quarterly, he said, adding that even in other police offices in the region, a regular simulation exercise is being conducted.

The Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO), also under Binag's command, is doing SIMEX almost every month. The exercises are conducted in different districts and adopted several scenarios, based on the prevailing circumstances. (FREEMAN)