Various health and environmentalist groups on Friday praised Department of Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat for taking a bold step to protect Boracay Island by prohibiting smoking in public places.
“We laud Secretary Puyat for her recent pronouncement that the island of Boracay will now be smokefree. She is the only Secretary that has the audacity to implement this policy and this only goes to show that she is a true servant of the Filipino people,” said Roberto Del Rosario, president of the Action on Smoking and Health Philippines.
He added, “Aside from protecting the environment, we believe such initiative will also ensure that tourists—especially children—are protected from the ill effects of smoking and second-hand smoke. Likewise, we are one with Puyat’s vision of having sustainable tourism for the country.”
Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Alliance Philippines executive director Maricar Limpin reminded local government units to strictly implement the provisions of Executive Order 26 or the nationwide smoking ban.
President Rodrigo Duterte signed EO 26 on May 16, 2017.
The directive enjoins the members of the Philippine National Police, with the Smoke-Free Task Force under the city and municipal governments, to strictly carry out the provisions of EO 26 including the apprehension of violators and the institution of criminal proceedings for violations.
E.O. 26 is a reinforcement of Republic Act 9211, also known as Tobacco Regulation Act of 2003, which prohibits smoking in certain public places and the purchase and sale of cigarettes and other tobacco products to and by minors, and in certain places frequented by minors.
Meanwhile, the Department of Public Works and Highways is rushing the completion of roads and other infrastructures in Boracay resort for its opening on Oct. 26, 2018.
Public Works Secretary Mark Villar said construction workers were on two-shift work system to finish the roads leading to the main island’s tourist area.
The government is expecting a better and more sustainable Boracay that will welcome back visitors as well as bigger market following the island’s full recovery.
In 2017, foreign tourist arrivals reached 6,620,908 total and in the first half of 2018, 3,706 million international arrivals were recorded, promising a positive run towards the 7.4-million goal by the end of the year.
With the reopening of Boracay, the country is looking forward to bringing in new markets as well as sustaining the growth of its key markets—South Korea, China and the United States.
In a related development, Undersecretary for Tourism Development Benito Bengzon Jr. reiterated that the Department of Tourism was well on track with its 7.4-million target as the island’s closure also became an opportunity to introduce and boost travellers’ awareness of other tourism destinations in the country, which was key to retaining the country’s positive month-on-month performance on tourism arrivals.
“The fact that we have kept ourselves afloat is a very strong reflection of how resilient the industry is, how quick we are to make adjustments with our marketing and promotions and I think, also a very strong communication of how prepared the other destinations are in welcoming the influx of tourists who otherwise would have gone to Boracay,” Bengzon said.