RETURNING HOME. Photo shows a motorized boat awaiting passengers at Cagban Port, Malay, Aklan. Around 500 tourists stuck on the island due to enhanced community quarantine were ferried home last March 21 and 22, Malay Mayor Frolibar Bautista said on Tuesday (March 24, 2020). (PNA file photo by Gail Momblan)
ILOILO CITY – Around 500 tourists from Boracay Island in Malay, Aklan had returned home through recovery flights arranged by the Department of Tourism (DOT), Malay Mayor Frolibar Bautista said on Tuesday.
The estimated 500 local and international tourists were stranded on the island after the town and other provinces in Panay island were put under enhanced community quarantine to contain the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).
“There were four flights arranged by the DOT on March 21 and 22,” Bautista said.
From Malay, Bautista said the tourists flew to Manila and will take connecting flights to their respective home destinations.
After the first batch, Bautista said there are still around 500 tourists on the island who also want to return home.
“Another 500 had listed themselves after the initial 500. They might be ferried home by another flight scheduled March 26,” he said.
Bautista maintains his order for tourism establishments in the island to take care of the remaining tourists.
Meanwhile, the Malay mayor has started meeting with village chiefs to identify Malay residents that need the aid of the local government unit during the quarantine period.
Malay town has earlier released food packs containing rice and canned goods to persons under monitoring and persons under investigation.
“We prioritize to help those who are quarantined – our PUMs and PUIs. We are now arranging help for the residents needing it,” he said.
As of March 23, Malay town has 494 PUM and six PUIs.
Bautista said they also hired another physician at the Municipal Health Office to boost its response in mainland Malay and Boracay Island for the Covid-19 crisis. (PNA)
