Roque visits Boracay, encourages Pinoys to help revive island

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque on Sunday visited Boracay Island, which reopened to tourists at the start of the month, to encourage Filipinos to help restart the economy of the popular destination.

According to a “24 Oras Weekend” report by Ian Cruz, Roque said many Boracay residents depend on tourism to survive.

“Importante pong makita nila na pupuwedeng mamasyal na sa Boracay dahil ang nakasalalay po dito, 30,000 na mga hanapbuhay,” he said.

“So kung kasalanan po ‘yun, pabayaan niyo sila. Saka ‘wag kayong mainggit, pumunta na kayo mga kritiko ko dito sa Boracay,” Roque told critics.

On his Facebook account, he also posted a photo of himself sitting on an actual white sand beach: "[A]ng aking masayang lugar mula noon, hanggang ngayon."

He also underwent swab testing and obtained a QR code for contact tracing purposes.

“Siguro dapat lang i-simplify kasi paulit-ulit ‘yung QR check saka paulit ulit ‘yung pag-check ng PCR e since sa airport na-check na ‘yan... Sana merong ibibigay na pass or something,” Roque said.

The spokesman also spoke with Boracay’s Chamber of Commerce as well as the Boracay Foundation about the aid that they will receive from the government.

Meanwhile, Roque said he will try to encourage President Rodrigo Duterte to visit the island.

“Mahirap kasi ngayon ang pagbibiyahe para kay presidente ano pero magpupulong kami pagbalik ko sa Lunes at isa ‘yun sa bagay na imumungkahi ko kasi safe na safe naman ngayon ang Boracay dahil kaunti pa nga lang ang tao,” he said. — Julia Mari Ornedo/BM, GMA News