Iloilo City—Thousands of workers stranded at world famous Boracay Island in Malay town, Aklan province can gradually go home to their respective hometowns as community quarantine continues.
“The first batch of stranded workers left this weekend. They have been reunited with their families,” Mayor Frolibar Bautista said Monday in a phone interview.
The local government of Malay has been facilitating the repatriation of stranded workers at Boracay, the country’s most famous beach destination that has been affected by travel restrictions and business shutdown caused by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
As per data from the Public Employment Services Office of Malay, there are more than 1,200 stranded workers who sought assistance to go home. But Bautista said the actual number is higher.
First to be repatriated are workers from other towns of Aklan province, which is geographically closer.
Repatriation will then include workers from the rest of Panay Island, which includes Antique, Capiz and Iloilo provinces as well as Iloilo City.
Bautista said a system has been put in place to make workers’ return successful, including issuance of health clearances while getting permission from local governments where the workers are from to allow them passage.
“If they cannot be allowed to enter at their borders, then they will be stuck because they can no longer re-enter Boracay,” Bautista explained.
Meanwhile, Bautista is calling fellow mayors to coordinate with Malay local government if some of their constituents are one of Boracay’s stranded workers. (Tara Yap)