DOT eyes closing Boracay from July to October

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Tuesday, February 27, 2018
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BORACAY – Tourism secretary Wanda Teo said they are eyeing to close this popular beach destination from July to October to pave way for the demolition of establishments that limit the island’s easement zone.

The easement zone is measures 25 meters plus five meters between buildings and the high-tide mark of the shore.

Teo said yesterday that Environment secretary Roy Cimatu will lead the dismantling of the erring establishments.

But tour operators pleaded with concerned government agencies to pursue demolition works “portion by portion.”

This would take longer than six months, as what President Rodrigo Duterte demanded, said Teo.

“Yung iba diyan, kumabit sa aming drainage system. Kailangang bungkalin namin ‘yung kalsada, so di namin magagawa ‘yan pag hindi sinara. Sa amin, para mabilis ang trabaho, we have to temporarily close. Ang (suggestion) namin is during Habagat (season),” Teo told radio DZMM.

She added, “Sa ngayon, we will be giving them time, but when comes Habagat season, usually pag Habagat season naman wala masyadong nagpupunta sa Boracay.”

The moves are still part of the aggressive actions aimed at restoring the island, which Duterte called a “cesspool” early this month.

Some 850 establishments have been served show-cause orders for easement violations and not connecting to the sewerage treatment plant, said Tourism assistant secretary Frederick Alegre.

Only 18 percent of the about 500 accredited hotel and resorts in the island were connected to the sewer system, Alegre added.

Teo stressed that the six-month period for the island cleanup is not workable due to the pre-scheduled trips of tourists.

She also appealed to the President to declare a state of calamity in the island, so that national officials can step in and “move fast.” (With a report from ABS-CBN News/PN)
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