No swimming in Boracay, DENR reiterates

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) will look into reports that European youth delegates of Genfest International were allowed to take a dip in the waters of Boracay on Wednesday.

“We just learned about this through a news report from GMA 7... We will look into this and determine if there’s any breach of the protocol set by the Boracay interagency task force,” DENR undersecretary and deputy spokesman Benny Antiporda said.

A report on GMA News said the Aklan police allowed the delegates to swim in Station 1 for at least 30 minutes at the request of the organizers of the festival and after a tight screening.

Antiporda stressed that swimming is not allowed anywhere in Boracay while it is closed for rehabilitation.

He said residents of Boracay might be allowed to swim, but only in designated areas near Station 1 and on Angol beach in Station 3 from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m.

DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu said Boracay is slowly recovering two months since its closure to tourists.

President Duterte issued Proclamation 475 placing Boracay under a state of calamity for six months starting April 26 because of environmental issues, including the lack of proper sewerage system.

The island is expected to be reopened on Oct. 27.