By Tara Yap
ILOILO CITY — The Police Regional Office (PRO-6) is preparing for the June 16 soft reopening of Boracay Island, the country’s most popular beach destination, as a means of re-energizing the economy of Malay town and the rest of Aklan province after the strict lockdown.
Cops patrol the beach area as local residents of Boracay Island are allowed to swim. (Malay Police Station / MANILA BULLETIN)
“We are now ready to secure Boracay Island, but we will ensure strict implementation of protocols and guidelines established by the task force,” said PRO-6 Director Brig. Gen. Rene Pamuspusan.
The Boracay Inter-Agency Task Force is only allowing into Boracay residents of Western Visayas, a region comprised of Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo, and Negros Occidental provinces and the highly urbanized cities of Iloilo and Bacolod.
Aside from only allowing the region’s residents, the task force also has an age limit. Those who are below 21-years-old and above 60-year-old are prohibited due to their perceived vulnerability from coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
The task force will also allow entry to the resort island to those with confirmed hotel booking.
PRO-6 Acting Spokesman Lt. Col. Gilbert Gorero said that PRO-6’s recently launched Boracay Operation Command Center will boost capacity of the Malay Police Station to monitor as 25 CCTVs have been installed.
Gorero added that Malay police was also in close coordination with other law enforcement agencies and emergency response teams while conducting simulation exercises to test their preparedness.