On Wednesday, the Department of Tourism (DOT) stated it would defer to experts on plans to enhance Boracay’s carrying capacity, which was exceeded during Holy Week.
According to research done by the University of the Philippines (UP) and commissioned by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the island’s carrying capacity is 19,215 tourists at any given moment.
The island received 21,252 guests on Maundy Thursday (April 14) and 22,519 tourists on Good Friday (April 15), above the approved daily level.
The DOT said it had alerted the DILG and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) about the problem and encouraged them to take proper precautions to avoid future accidents.
“We continue our coordination with them, especially the DILG, which has jurisdiction over the LGU (local government unit), to address this concern and prevent similar incidents from happening in the future,” it said.
Local officials have reportedly requested that the Boracay’s carrying capacity be raised, but the Department of Transportation has responded that it must first speak with experts.
“It’s not about lobbying, it’s about studies. If indeed it can be increased, we will, but I believe even pre-pandemic we never breached the 19,000,” Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat told reporters.
Experts to study increasing capacity of Boracay
“Again, we will listen to the third-party experts and if they tell that it can be increased, then it can be,” she added.
The DOT has previously urged local governments to rectify the breach and take reasonable steps to prevent it.
“It’s a matter of really working, the national government working with the local government, and also with the different government agencies and of course, the travelers,” the secretary said.
“We all have to work together to maintain our alert level system, the lowest alert level system, and to make sure the cases continue to go down,” she elaborated.
Airlines have a daily seat capacity of over 5,000 passengers on Boracay Island.
While Aklan is still under COVID-19 Alert Level 1, they must apply for a QR code, stay in a DOT-accredited lodging establishment, and fill out a health declaration form.
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