BORACAY – Malay, Aklan acting mayor Frolibar Bautista proposed antigen testing as a condition for the return of workers in this island resort.
It is necessary to check the workers for possible coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection, he explained.
Employers, according to Bautista, may require their employees to take the test.
Antigen tests are deemed a much quicker way of detecting COVID-19.
This proposed test is separate from the regular reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests for tourism workers in Boracay every four weeks.
Last week, the Provincial Health Office-Aklan tested nearly 1,600 Boracay hotel employees.
“Keeping the workplace safe and for employees to return to work safely are our priorities,” said Bautista.
Boracay Island recorded only two confirmed COVID-19 cases since the start of the pandemic last year. Both recovered.
“Naniniguro tayo dahil walang local transmission sa Malay at Boracay Island. We discourage na umuwi sa kanilang bayan ang mga workers dahil kalimitan doon sila galing sa may mga COVID-19 cases,” said Bautista.
He also revealed a plan of adopting reduced days of work for contractual employees as an alternative to retrenchment (except for drivers of rescue vehicles and beach guards).
“Kailangan mga 15 days in a month ang trabaho nila, at ma-sustain natin ito for one year. Wala tayong dismissal ngunit gagawin natin ito dahil apektado ng pandemya ang kita sa turismo,” he explained.
Frolibar denied reports of a lockdown beginning Jan. 15 in Boracay Island after a priest contracted COVID-19./PN
