WATCH: Gov’t to stick with 6-month closure of Boracay, DENR says

MANILA, Philippines — Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu on Wednesday stressed that the government would stick with the six-month deadline set to rehabilitate Boracay.

Cimatu cited that 64 percent of Filipinos are suggesting to close the entire island of Boracay to tourists for a year based on the Social Weather Stations poll released last June 30 but the Boracay inter-agency task force led by the DENR would not implement a year-long closure.

READ: SWS: 64% Filipinos in favor of year-long Boracay closure

“We are rushing to address the deterioration of Boracay island within the six month period given to us by the president,” Cimatu said during the pre-SONA 2018 forum held at the Philippine International Convention Center.

During the forum, Cimatu also showed the positive environmental changes made during the rehabilitation of the pollution-challenged island.

Cimatu also said there is a need to protect the island as it is part of the migration route of endangered marine animals like the whale shark or "butanding."

The DENR chief cited that a whale shark was spotted on Boracay last June 23.

Environmental organization Greenpeace, however, clarified that the whale shark sighting is a normal occurrence and not an indicator of success.

READ: Greenpeace: Butanding off Boracay no indicator of cleanup success

Cimatu vowed that as the government works together to restore Boracay, it would no longer be called a “cesspool.”

The island of Boracay was closed to tourists since April 26 to pave way for its rehabilitation. President Rodrigo Duterte said it would be closed for only six months.

“We will be able to open Boracay again and take pride in bringing back the island to its former glory,” Cimatu said.

“Boracay island will not be seen again as a cesspool,” he added.