Virgin Island, also known as Puntod Island, in Panglao, Bohol, has reopened to tourists after more than a year of closure for environmental rehabilitation. The island, closed since September 9, 2024, welcomed visitors again starting February 3, 2026, under a new set of rules designed to protect its coral reefs going forward.
Why the Island Closed
The Protected Area Management Board (PAMB), under the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), ordered the closure after a viral video showed a tourist vandalizing corals at the Estaca snorkeling site, with names carved into the reef. Authorities also cited poor waste management, illegal anchoring that damaged corals, and unauthorized fee collection by some tour operators.
Bohol Governor Aris Aumentado backed the closure and offered a ₱200,000 reward for information leading to the identification of those responsible for the vandalism. Investigators later found that a dive guide and a boatman were involved in the incident. During the closure, exceptions were made for shellfish gathering during low tide, boat passage to Balicasag Island, and fish cage operations run by the Danao United Fishermen’s Association within the Panglao Island Protected Seascape.
Stricter Rules for Reopening
Now reopened, Virgin Island operates under tighter management. All tourist boats must dock exclusively at the island as the designated entry and exit point, where visitors are required to register, pay entrance fees, and attend a mandatory environmental briefing before snorkeling or diving. Authorities have also introduced a 24-hour bantay dagat (sea patrol) team, screened and trained local tour guides, and installed buoys, safety nets, and designated mooring sites to prevent boats from damaging the reef.
Governor Aumentado, who led the reopening ceremony, said the province wants to make sure this round of tourism is sustainable, with stronger interagency support beyond DENR alone. Boats operating on the island must now be registered with the Maritime Industry Authority as part of the new compliance requirements.
The reopening marks a new chapter for one of Bohol’s most visited destinations, balancing continued tourism income for local communities with the long-term health of the island’s marine ecosystem.
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