Amid Boracay residents plea: Swimming, fishing regulations modified

BORACAY IS., AKLAN, Philippines – Some items of  the general guidelines over the 6-month closure of  Boracay in Aklan have been modified by authorities following suggestions from various sectors in the island.

One of these is the fishing regulation, which is now eased up to allow Boracay residents to fish anywhere in the island, except on dive sites, marine protected areas, and snorkeling areas.

Lieutenant Commander Ramil Palabrica, chief of the Philippine Coast Guard-Caticlan Station, said this was an adjustment of the earlier pronouncement of allowing residents to fish only beyond the 15-kilometer radius from the shoreline.

To ensure that only Boracay residents could fish in the allowed area, Palabrica said the PCG would enforce the safety, security and environmental numbering system, which provides the issuance of an identification number for each vessel of Boracay residents only.

Palabrica said also that the rule on banning floating structures within 15 kilometers from the shoreline has been eased up. "From 15 kilometers, mooring area is now reduced to three kilometers," he said, but clarified that this is only applicable to members of the Boracay Boat Association.

Further, the swimming area for Boracay residents has been transferred from Angol Beach in Station 3 to Station 1, by April 26, the start of the Boracay shutdown. "Appropriate buoys to mark the area will be installed," Palabrica said, but added that swimming will only be allowed from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The change of venue was brought about by considerations that corals might be destroyed if Angol Beach will be made as the swimming area, which is also not accessible by emergency vehicles.

These adjustments of the rules were discussed and approved during the Save Boracay conference in the evening of April 17, with representatives from the Department of  Tourism, the Department of the Interior and Local Government, the Department of  Environment and Natural Resources, the Philippine National Police (PNP), and the PCG, among others.

Palabrica further said that no special identification card will be issued for Boracay residents, and that any valid ID cards indicating a resident's address would be accepted as proof.

Chief Superintendent Cesar Hawthorne Binag, Police Regional Office-Region 6 (Western Visayas) director and chairman of the Regional Peace and Order Council, told The Freeman that the adjustments are proof that the government is willing and had been listening to suggestions and recommendations of the stakeholders.

Amid varied reactions, complaints, and suggestions to the schedule closure of Boracay island, authorities have assured the public that they would listen and take into consideration, if warranted, the people's plea, Binag said.

"We are working to make the transition smooth and the rehabilitation process as peaceful as possible," said Binag, and that the rules might evolve as the shutdown nears.

Also agreed on Tuesday was to retain the rules on media accreditation and the one entry-one exit policy. Members of the media shall be allowed entry to Boracay, but subject to prior approval from the Department of  Tourism with a definite duration and limited movement. They will be allowed entry at 8 a.m. and they will have to leave at 5 p.m.

Boracay workers will be allowed entry if  they could present a certificate from their employers. However, no visitors of Boracay residents shall be allowed entry except under emergency situations but with clearance of the security committee, consisting of  representatives from the DILG, the PNP, and the local government unit.