

Department of Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said smoking and drinking in public places would be banned in Boracay.

“Definitely no more smoking and drinking sa white beach. Why? Because this is a public beach,” Puyat said during the Meet with Inquirer Multimedia forum on Tuesday.

According to Puyat, the smoking and drinking ban imposed on Boracay Island would ensure the safety of the public walking along the white beach.

She explained that the ban covers not only the beach but other public places in Boracay.

“They can smoke and drink where they stay, in the private, but the long beach has to be protected,” Puyat asserted. “Ito very sure ito, no smoking and drinking in the public places.”

Puyat made the revelation after her meeting with Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Roy Cimatu and Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Eduardo Año last week.

The meeting aimed to the discuss the guidelines on how to lower the carrying capacity of the island. However, Puyat explained that this still has to be discussed further.

The call to lower the number of tourist arrivals in Boracay was made after Puyat announced that the island would be no longer be a “party place.” /vvp

READ: Puyat: Boracay no longer a ‘party place’ when it reopens Oct. 26

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