Boracay soft opening: 1,000 rooms available

MANILA, Philippines — Only 1,000 rooms will be available during the dry run of the reopening of Boracay on Oct. 16, according to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

“More or less, we are expecting some 3,000 guests who can be accommodated by participating establishments... during the dry run,” DENR Undersecretary Benny Antiporda said.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) released an initial list of 25 hotels and resorts with more than 2,000 rooms that were allowed by the Boracay inter-agency task force to resume operations next month.

The DENR urged those who plan to visit Boracay to wait for the release of the list of establishments that were cleared or completed their requirements before making their reservations.

The DENR said priority would be given to local tourists, especially residents of Aklan, during the dry run until Oct. 25. 

“The dry run will help the Boracay interagency task force to come up with an overall assessment of the island’s condition prior to its reopening on Oct. 26,” Cimatu said.

The DENR said the operation of a one-stop shop was extended until Sept. 7 to facilitate the processing of requirements of business establishments.

Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said the rehabilitation of the island would continue after its reopening.

Puyat said only the first phase of Boracay’s rehabilitation would be completed next month. She said the second phase would be finished by the middle of next year and third phase by the end of 2019.