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BY BOY RYAN ZABAL
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Wednesday, February 28, 2018
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Closure to hasten rehab, says Tourism dep’t
BORACAY – Aside from closure, authorities also consider declaring a “state of calamity” in this island resort as the government works to rehabilitate the top tourist destination.
Closing down Boracay for 60 days will hasten the demolition of illegal structures, according to the Department of Tourism.
It will also allow government agencies helping in the rehabilitation of the island to “move faster,” said Assistant Secretary for the Office of Public Affairs Frederick Alegre.
“Bawasan ang red tape for the agencies to get equipment to rehabilitate and disburse funds easier,” he told CNN Philippines.
A state of calamity will allow an “easy access to funds to implement activities to solve problems in Boracay,” said Jonas Leones, Department of Environment and Natural Resources undersecretary for policy, planning and international affairs.
The Interior department recommended the closure and the state of calamity declaration during an interagency task force hearing last week. The task force is studying this.
President Rodrigo Duterte has called Boracay a “cesspool” for being riddled with environmental problems, particularly on sewerage.
He called on the Environment department to solve problems in the island resort within six months.
The public shaming of the jewel of Philippine tourism prompted frantic action from Environment officials, many of whom trooped to Boracay to convene with local stakeholders and lead the destruction of structures believed to be endangering the island.
Tourism secretary Wanda Teo had said they consider closing Boracay from July to October, or during the habagat (southwest monsoon) season, when tourist arrivals are expected to dwindle.
But tour operators and travel agencies that bring in tourists from abroad met with Teo recently to recommend that the closure be enforced in June, or what they called the “low season,” Alegre said.
“We will come out with a massive communication plan for local and global consumption to explain to everybody why we are doing it for Boracay,” he said. “We want long-term and not stop-gap solutions.”
Alegre also spoke about the need for all sectors to collaborate in rehabilitating Boracay, in a tone that is persistent albeit with a note of panic.
“The government wants to work with the private sector. Everybody has a stake here. We are willing to listen. We are consulting. We need to work on this together,” he said. “We are looking to save and sustain Boracay for the future generation. This might be our only chance.” (With Aklan Forum Journal/PN)
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