Congress should demarcate Boracay agri land — Duterte

MANILA, Philippines — President Duterte wants Congress to come up with clear-cut rules on how much of Boracay can be set aside for businesses and what parts of the island can be used for agriculture. 

Duterte said he is open to allowing multinational companies to do business on the island but prefers that the area be given to Filipinos. 

“We will just delineate certain portions. But the rest of the island will be declared a land reform area. I will give it first to the people,” the President said.  

“I leave it to Congress to decide. I’d like to have a clear cut parameter of how much would be given back to business,” he added. 

Duterte said “a few strips” can be given to businesses but reiterated that the island must be taken care of for the next generation. 

“They can just keep the place there blooming... you can have some sort of farming, agriculture there. Most of the areas will be given to the people,” he said. 

“Multinationals and big companies can go there but my predilection, actually, is just to give it first to the farmers.”

Duterte said he could not rush the rehabilitation of Boracay, which was closed to tourists for six months starting last month because of its environmental issues. 

“Do not ask me to rush things. Allow (interior officer-in-charge Eduardo) Año and (environment secretary Roy) Cimatu to clean the place after that we will go away,” he said.  

“I hope they would take care of it (Boracay) the next time for the next generation.”

Duterte has issued Proclamation No. 475 placing Boracay under state of calamity for six months, a move that officials said could cost the economy some P1.9 billion and affect 35,000 workers.  

The proclamation was issued two months after Duterte called the world-famous tourist destination a “cesspool” because it lacked a sewerage system.