PIA Aklan Balita (February 16 - 28, 2022)

Volume 20

KALIBO, Aklan (PIA) -Aklan governor Florencio T. Miraflores called on Aklanon mothers to have their children vaccinated against COVID-19.

Miraflores issued this call, February 11, during the launching of Resbakuna sa Botika held at Watsons City Mall Boracay, and at the launching of the Resbakuna Kids at Paradise Garden Resort.

He said vaccines are now available for both adults and children, unlike last year, when every province is scrambling to have its share.

He added that Boracay Island has zero active

Issue 04

cases of COVID-19 now and it has already achieved 106% vaccination of its targeted number of the population to be vaccinated, this proves that vaccination really works.

The Department of Health (DOH) and Department of Tourism (DOT), in partnership with the local governments of Aklan and Malay organized the two vaccination

Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat delivers her message during the launching of Resbakuna sa Botika on February 11, 2022 at the Watsons in City Mall in Boracay Island, Malay, Aklan. Sec. Puyat acknowledged the collaborative effort among the local government, national government, and private sector in succeeding the COVID-19 vaccination roll-out of more than 100 percent. (SQP/PIA-Aklan)

February 16 –28, 2021

activities in the island, which were attended by InterAgency Task Force Chief Implementer and Vaccine Czar Secretary Carlito G. Galvez, Jr., Deputy Chief Implementer and Testing Czar Sec. Vivencio Dizon, DOT Sec. Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, and Undersecretary Anthony Gerard Gonzales of the Office

Aklan Governor Florencio Miraflores delivers his message during during the launching of Resbakuna sa Botika held at Watsons City Mall Boracay. (PIAContinued on page… 02 Aklan)

KALIBO, Aklan (PIA) -- Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat commended the performance of Boracay Island for its COVID-19 vaccination roll out as it provides a positive impact to the tourism industry of the island.

“I’m so proud whenever I tell our foreign partners abroad that Boracay ay 100 percent fully vaccinated na and nagpapabooster na,” she said in her message during the launching of Resbakuna sa Botika on February 11, 2022 at the Watsons City Mall in Boracay Island, Malay, Aklan.

She added that 20% of the eligible adult population of the island already received booster shots, noting that all had willingly and eagerly taken the jabs.

Also, the 12 to 17 years old individuals were inoculated with the vaccine and now starting on the 5 to 11 years old population.

Romullo-Puyat revealed that she never failed to mention Boracay Island everytime she is asked to suggest possible tourist destinations.

“Well, of course, maganda naman ta-

laga and Boracay; malinis, yung coliform level normally a hundred, only 15 na yata – ang quality malinis pa sa malinis; and ‘yung bakunado dito sa Boracay hindi lamang 100% kundi more than 100%,” the tourism chief’s reasons why she suggest the island to be the destination of tourists.

She also acknowledged the collaborative effort among the local government, national government and private sectors in succeeding the COVID-19 vaccination roll out.

Romulo-Puyat said that with such partnership, it paved way for the initiative that tourists – domestic and foreign, going to the island, could have their free COVID-19 booster shots at Watsons City Mall Boracay.

“Lahat na mahahanap mo sa Boracay - nice sand, clean beach, masarap na pagkain, kind people, bakunado lahat ng tao at nagpapabooster pa, at yung mga dayuhan pwede pang magpabooster,” she said, adding that such are the reasons why Boracay Island is the number one tourist destination. (AAL/SQP/PIA Aklan)

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PIA AKLAN BALITA

PAGE 02

Vol. No. 20 Issue No. 04

Aklan guv…

From page 01 of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas.

The principals of the vaccination activities in Boracay were one in congratulating LGU-Malay, under Mayor Frolibar Bautista, and the provincial government of Aklan, led by Governor Miraflores, for surpassing the vaccination of targeted population in the island, which they said "could serve as a model to other tourist destinations in the country to achieve the same feat."

Meanwhile, according to Malay Municipal Health Officer Dr. Athena Magdamit, vaccination for Boracaynons at Watsons in City Mall Boracay will be sustained by the MHO after the launching of Resbakuna sa Boracay, as the place has been the vaccination center in the island since the jabbing activities in the island last year.

On the other hand, according to the Provincial Health Office (PHO) here, the Resbakuna for Kids will also be launched next week in mainland Aklan at the ABL Sports Complex, Kalibo, with Feb. 15, 2022 as the tentative date. (JBG/VGV/PIA6 Aklan)

KALIBO, Aklan – A Field Modular Hospital in Dr. Rafael S. Tumbokon Memorial Hospital in Kalibo, Aklan is now operational and ready to house COVID-19 patients.

A blessing ceremony for the opening of the 22-room facility for mild COVID-19 patients was held on Monday, February 21, 2022.

“Rayang modular hospital hay manami gid sa atong COVID-19 response (This modular hospital is good for our COVID-19 response),” said Aklan Governor Florencio Miraflores in his message during the ceremony noting that the COVID-19 response of the province will become more effective.

He said that the establishment of the modular hospital was due to the surge of COVID-19 infections in the province in June, July and August last year wherein the provincial government of Aklan was worried that the infected patients will have

Aklan governor Florencio Miraflores delivers his message during the blessing ceremony of

KALIBO, Aklan – The tourism industry in Boracay Island in Malay, Aklan, is now slowly recovering with the increasing number of tourist arrivals thru the acceptance of foreign tourists.

In a media interview, Malay Tourism Officer Felix Delos Santos said that with the relaxing of travel requirements, more tourists are expected to visit the island which eventually would lead to the improvement of the tourism economy of Boracay.

He noted that the opening of Boracay to international

tourists has a big impact on the recovery of the island as its economy heavily relies on tourism.

In a previous interview, Delos Santos revealed that based on their recovery and resiliency plan, Boracay Island will not be able to recover if foreign market will not be allowed and included.

Based on the record of the Malay Municipal Tourism Office, tourist arrivals in Boracay Island from February 1 to 15, 2022 were 31, 525.

Included in this number were the 36 foreign tourists

who visited the island from February 12 to 15, 2022, two days after the government finally reopened the Philippine’s borders to fully vaccinated international tourists.

The said 36 international tourists came from the United States of America with 16 arrivals; from Germany with 5 arrivals; United Kingdom with 4; France and Norway with 2 each; and with 1 arrival each from South Korea, United Arab Emirates, Poland, Kuwait, China, Australia, and Belgium. (AAL/SQP/PIA Aklan)

the 22-room modular hospital at Dr. Rafael S. Tumbokon Memorial Hospital in Kalibo, Aklan. The modular hospital is intended to house mild COVID-19 patients. (SQP/Photo courtesy of the Office of the Vice Governor)

no place to put and treat with, if cases will keep on increasing.

“In case there will be a surge of COVID-19 infections again, the province is now prepared and Aklan has a good facility to offer for the infected patients,” Miraflores said.

He also explained that the establishment of the

modular hospital is in preparation also for the Infectious Disease building, which is currently being constructed.

According to him, he is fast tracking the construction of the building so that the province will have a separate hospital which is intended for infectious diseases only so that the Dr. Rafael S,. Tumbokon Hospital will be serving nonCOVID patients.

“Nanotice nakon nga kaeu-oy ro aton nga mga non -COVID-19 patients nga indi makabaton it serbisyo it DRSTMH dahil sa limitado ro area para kanda (I’ve notice that our COVID-19 patients suffer as they could not receive the services of DRSTMH because of the limited space for them),” said Miraflores, emphasizing that establishment of the modular hospital is a big step for the operation of Infectious Diseases Hospital.

Meanwhile, the Governor expressed gratitude to the national government especially to the Department of Public Works and Highways and Department of Health for providing immediate assistance for the creation of the field modular hospital.

(AAL/SQP/PIA-Aklan)