BORACAY ISLAND, Aklan — The Boracay Inter-agency Task Force (BIATF) has issued a stern warning against non-compliant Boracay establishments to refrain from accepting bookings and conducting online promotions.
“We are strongly advising non-compliant establishments to delete or put on-hold all online promotions and related collaterals until compliance with the government regulations shall have been accomplished,” a public advisory from the task force released on Monday said.
Non-compliant establishments, which will continue to solicit and accept booking reservations, may be subject to civil liabilities for their actions are considered deceptive, it added.
Tourism Secretary Bernadette Puyat on Monday said only 68 establishments have complied with the requirements set by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and accredited by the Department of Tourism (DOT).
“Tourists can only book with these 68 compliant establishments,” said Puyat during a press conference in Boracay held Monday afternoon.
Puyat said the number of accredited establishments is still expected to increase days before the reopening on October 26.
She likewise urged the public to avoid transactions with establishments that have not yet secured the necessary clearances, permits and/or accreditation from the DOT.
Meanwhile, Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu said the task force will also go after establishments that have falsified documents just to get accreditation.
Cimatu said an employee of a Boracay establishment has already been caught falsifying a certification from the DENR to get accreditation.
“We will file charges against the person who falsified the documents,” he said during the same press conference.
Cimatu said establishments that will be allowed to open will be strictly monitored and the number of rooms allowed to operate for every compliant establishment. (Karen Bermejo/PNA)
