MANILA – The Department of Tourism (DOT) has revoked the accreditation of a hotel in Boracay Island in Malay, Aklan that housed a female Bureau of Fire Protection in Region 6 personnel who tested positive for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
DOT secretary Bernadette Puyat said Wednesday the hotel had no certificate of authority to Ooperate yet when the BFP-6 personnel and her 27 co-workers stayed there from June 12 to 14.
“The concerned hotel at that time had no certificate of authority to operate yet, which is issued by the agency after ensuring it has certain health and safety protocols in place,” she said in an interview with CNN Philippines.
“That’s already a violation, and (the guest) found out that she was COVID-positive. We already revoked the accreditation of the hotel,” she added.
According to Puyat, the guests checked in on June 12 and “pretended” to be part of the Boracay Inter-Agency Task Force (BIATF) delegation when it convened a meeting on the island from June 11-12.
“The group claimed that they were attending a conference of the BIATF from June 12 to 14, but there was no conference that time as the task force has already left Boracay during that period,” she said.
As part of the protocol, Puyat said local authorities immediately launched contact tracing. The staff of the hotel, who came in contact with the guest, have been quarantined as well. (With a report from PNA/PN)
