MALAY, Aklan – Malay acting mayor Frolibar Bautista favored the antigen test requirement for tourists and workers entering Boracay Island.
But the antigen test for Boracay will depend on the decision of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID).
The cheaper and faster coronavirus test is recommended by business owners for inbound visitors to Boracay, the mayor said.
To date, tourists traveling to Boracay Island must submit a negative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test not earlier than 72 hours and confirmed hotel bookings.
The acting mayor pointed out the RT-PCR is costly for incoming travelers compared to antigen test. The antigen tests diagnose active coronavirus infections, have quicker turnaround time with results in an hour or less.
Bautista said he will discuss the plan with Aklan governor Florencio Miraflores, stakeholders and tourism sector this week to recommend the antigen testing.
The plan will be endorsed to Boracay Inter-Agency Task Force (BIATF) for approval by IATF-EID.
Since Boracay’s reopening on October 1 until Oct. 25, it has able to welcome 1,944 tourists from National Capital Region (NCR) and Western Visayas. Of this number, 57 percent or 1,113 visitors came from NCR./PN
