ILOILO CITY — The Department of Tourism in Western Visayas (DOT-6) will start to conduct trainings among frontliners for Boracay island in Malay, Aklan this month.
The initiative seeks to ensure that Boracay is ready with its services and facilities for the re-opening of the famous island resort this October, said DOT-6 Regional Director Helen Catalbas on Tuesday.
“We have the support of our stakeholders, and with that, we are assured that a better, cleaner and environment-friendly Boracay Island will welcome us soon,” she said.
The training will include effective customer service experience for boatmen, porters, tricycle drivers and vendors, among others. There will also be language training and tourism awareness seminar.
Catalbas said the Boracay Stakeholders Core Group agreed that only compliant establishments will be allowed to operate again when Boracay island re-opens this October.
This was among the result of the meeting of the group with DOT Undersecretary Arturo Boncato last June 27, Catalbas said.
She said that the agreement during the meeting will be presented to DOT Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat and the members of the Boracay Inter-Agency Task Force for their consideration.
“Compliant” establishments are those who follow the regulations of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of the Interior and Local Government, local government unit of Malay.
“I believe we all had an understanding that each sector shall police its own ranks by making sure members abide by the rules and regulations to operate. Boracay stakeholders heartily accepted their shortcomings and are doing their best to be compliant,” Catalbas said
Catalbas said the core group also suggested for the regulatory bodies to expedite processing of permits and clearances.
She added that the Core Group also approved that by the end of August 2018, 70 percent or 1,700 establishments (all sectors) should be compliant so DOT’s accreditation campaign can start by the first week of September. (Cindy Ferrer/PNA)
