Acting Mayor Frolibar Bautista of Malay announced the swimming ban on Boracay would be lifted, but the island would remain closed to tourists.
Aklan province and the rest of Western Visayas shifted to modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) starting today.
Governor Florencio Tumbocon Miraflores earlier order the ban of swimming in Boracay even if Aklan is already under generally modified quarantine on May 1.
The local government said swimming is allowed but would be regulated to ensure physical distancing and other health measures are observed.
“We may designate swimming areas along the 4.5-kilometer beach and regulate the number of those going there at a time. It will depend on a trial run in the next few days,” Bautista told the Inquirer on Sunday.
Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) guidelines allowed indoor and outdoor non-contact sports, including swimming in MGCQ areas, provided that minimum public health standards are observed.
Bautista said there are several tourists remain stranded on Boracay, but new tourists are not allowed to enter the island.
Iloilo, Antique, Aklan, Guimaras, and Capiz local government also lifted their province’s border restrictions.
Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas, however, said ports and airports in Western Visayas would remain closed and would only accommodate repatriated overseas Filipino workers and stranded residents.
Also read: Foreigner couple caught having sex in public at Boracay beach
DOST allocates P5-M fund for OFWs
The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) would give P5 million initial funding for its iFWD PH (innovation for Filipinos Working Distantly from the Philippines) project.
The iFWD PH would give opportunities for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and their families to establish technology-based businesses in the country.
“We officially launched the program last Friday, and we are starting it soon. Initially, this (program) will be available in the NCR (National Capital Region), and we would gradually roll this out to other regions in the future,” DOST Secretary Fortunato dela Peña said, noting the project could accommodate 25-30 OFW this year.
“The businesses they would put up are required to be technology-based. “It can be as simple as food processing, electronics, as long as there is technology involved,” he added.