Eating in Boracay's front beach now forbidden

BORACAY ISLAND, Philippines – Visitors in this central Philippine resort island are no longer allowed to eat while in the front beach, the local mayor said on Tuesday. Mayor Ciceron Cawaling of Malay town in Aklan province, where the country’s premier resort is located, said police will confiscate food from anyone seen eating in the beach. The prohibition is covered in an ordinance approved by the Sanggunang Bayan (municipal council) in 1996 but it has never been fully enforced, said Cawaling. "We have already informed our food vendors and restaurant owners not to sell their items in the tourists frolicking in the front beach. However, we figured that sometimes tourists bring their food while swimming," the mayor said. He said the ordinance is aimed at keeping the pristine white sand beach clean. Officials of the Departments of tourism, environment and natural resources, the Philippine National Police and local government units, among other government agencies are on their toes in anticipation of the influx of tourists during the semestral break this month. - Jun Ariolo N. Aguirre, GMANews.TV