KALIBO, Aklan – The much-awaited reopening of Boracay will happen in less than a month, but authorities said the island’s complete rehabilitation will need a couple of months more.
In a congressional hearing on Friday, the Boracay Inter-Agency Task Force said the restoration of the island will take two years in full.
“The soft opening is the first phase of the rehabilitation pa lang. The [complete] rehabilitation of Boracay will take two years,” Interior chief Eduardo Año said during the public hearing.
“But the six-month closure has produced something that would restore the island to its pristine state,” he added.
Año said Boracay will be the “best tourist destination” in Asia in two years.
Meanwhile, Environment secretary Roy Cimatu hopes that after the two-year timeline, people will abide by the environmental laws in the area.
“We have completed six months. We have one and a half years to go. Hopefully, we can have finishing touches…and at the same time, sustain the environmental laws na nakaligtaan dati,” he said.
Boracay will reopen on Oct. 26 – six months after President Rodrigo Duterte ordered it shut to pave the way for its rehabilitation.
Ahead of the opening, authorities said only less than ten percent of establishments have complied with the requirements set by the DENR.
During the hearing, the DENR presented restrictions in the island’s soft opening. These include temporary suspension of diving and other water sports activities, suspension of new establishment constructions, prohibition of casinos and online gambling, as well as fire dancing activities on the beachfront. (With CNN Philippines/PN)
