THE Department of Tourism (DOT) on Friday gave the go-signal to 43 more hotels and resorts in Boracay Island to start receiving guests beginning October 26.
Among the additional resorts are: Shangrila’s Boracay Resort & Spa, White House Beach Resort, Hey Jude Resort Hotel and Hey Jude South Beach, Hotel Soffia, Jony’s Beach Resort and Jony’s Boutique Hotel, Milflores de Boracay, The Strand Boutique Hotel, among others.
The DOT had announced the first batch of accredited resorts last August 31. (See, “25 Boracay resorts allowed to reopen on October 26,” in the BusinessMirror online, August 31, 2018.) The new batch now brings the total number of resorts accredited to reopen to 68, accounting for 3,519 rooms.
Environment Secretary Roy A. Cimatu told the BusinessMirror recently, they are targeting some 5,000 rooms to be made available at the reopening of the popular resort island, which was recently recognized as one of the best in Asia, in the Readers’ Choice Awards of Conde Nast Traveler.
DOT officials, however, noted that Shangri-La Boracay had been soliciting guests and writing its Golden Circle members since September 29, despite not being on any official government compliance list. The agency, however, stopped short of formally writing the resort management to call its attention.
Also, Paradise Garden, another accredited resort, will not be operating a casino or any online gaming operations on its premises, as part of its compliance with DOT’s accreditation guidelines. Resort General Manager Edwin M. Raymundo issued a certification on October 5, 2018 to this effect, a copy of which was obtained by the BusinessMirror. Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo Puyat has repeatedly stressed that no casinos will be allowed on Boracay, in keeping with President Duterte’s instructions. This covers casinos and casino licenses existing prior to the closure of the island on April 26.
Meanwhile, a government source said leaders of the inter-agency Task Force Boracay are now firmer than ever in banning the reopening of a popular beachfront resort chain on the island, after it was found to have faked a certification document. “They will not be allowed to reopen,” the source quoted task force leaders. The fake document was brought to the task force’s attention after vigilant stakeholders on the island found out that one of the chain’s resorts, had supposedly secured an environmental compliance certificate (ECC).
According to the fake certification document, allegedly signed by Dr. Sophie Manuel, regional director of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for Western Visayas on October 8, said the resort, “has undergone substantive review and has complied with the requirements of PD1586 (Philippine EIS System), RA 8749 (Clean Air Act), RA 9723 (Clean Water Act), RA 6969 (Toxic Substances and Hazardous And Nuclear Wastes Control Act), and RA 9003 (Ecological Solid Waste Management Act) in compliance to DENR Memorandum Circular No. 2018-08 dated July 15, 2018.
“The above establishment,” the fake document further stated, “is hereby recommended for the lifting of the suspension of the ECC and for the issuance of the above permits and clearances.” Earlier, Interior officer-in-charge Eduardo M. Año said the resort chain had not even complied with his agency’s requirements. (See, “Task Force Boracay warns resorts: Don’t cheat on compliance,” in the BusinessMirror, October 1, 2018.)
The owner of the resort chain was said to have messaged a ranking DOT official denying knowledge and participation in faking said document, according to the source.