MANILA – The entire Boracay will be subjected to land reform and given to farmers after the island’s six-month rehabilitation, said President Rodrigo Duterte.
In a press conference in Davao City before flying to China yesterday afternoon, Duterte cited a law that classified Boracay as agricultural and forestal.
“You want to know now? I’m going to give the announcement. It’s going to be a land reform area for the Filipino,” Duterte said. “I-land reform ko na ‘yan, mas mabuti pa. I’ll tell you now. I-land reform ko lahat ‘yan then I’ll give it to the farmers.”
Earlier this month, President Duterte approved the recommendation for a six-month temporary closure of Boracay starting April 26 to make way for its rehabilitation.
“The law says it is forestal, agricultural. Why would I deviate from that? Do I have a good reason?” asked Duterte. “Lilinisin ko lang naman, ibalik ko sa Filipino ‘yung mga lupa nila.”
The half-a-year closure was recommended by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Tourism and Department of Interior and Local Government.
In March, Duterte likened Boracay to a cesspool and threatened to shut it down.
Over the years, runaway development, the influx of people beyond the island’s carrying capacity, poor implementation of environmental regulations, and encroachment of structures have taken a toll on the 1,032-hectare island.
On May 22, 2006 then President Macapagal-Arroyo issued Presidential Proclamation No. 1064 that classified as alienable and disposable 628.96 hectares in Boracay and the rest as protected and forestland areas.
NO TO CASINO
In the same speech yesterday, President Duterte also clarified he was against the operation of casino in Boracay.
“Wala akong plano diyan na casino-casino. Tama na ‘yan kasi sobra na. Casino dito, casino doon…My order was (just) to clean it up,” said Duterte.
Last month, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. issued a license to Macau casino operator Galaxy Entertainment Group Ltd. and its local partner Leisure and Resorts World Corp. that plan to build a $500-million casino resort in Boracay.
Critics said Boracay’s closure and cleanup were just a ruse to accommodate the mega casino.
But the President said, “Far (from) it actually. I never said about building anything or even a nipa hut there…So mag-clean(up), sarado. There’s one way in, one way out.”
While they already have a license, Galaxy Entertainment Group Ltd. and Leisure and Resorts World Corp. have yet to submit the necessary applications for clearances and permits to the Department of Tourism and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
“’Yung mga casino? Who owns the casino? Hotels? Big ones? Who owns them? ‘Yung mga mayaman, pati mga dayo. Eh agricultural man (‘yung lupa), eh ‘di ibalik ko sa farmers,” said Duterte.
Environment secretary Roy Cimatu previously said he was against the casino and that Boracay was not ideal for such type of development.
Following its closure for six months starting April 26, the President said he would sign a proclamation declaring a state of calamity in the world-famous island resort./PN
