'Dismantle Boracay flea markets'

MANILA, Philippines - After the government has demolished parts of a posh resort in Boracay for being in a no-build zone, now the Senate wants to see all of the tiangges (flea markets) standing on the resort island’s white sand gone by October.

Senate finance committee chairman Franklin Drilon and Sen. Loren Legarda have given Environment Secretary Ramon Paje a three-month deadline to remove these stalls to prevent Boracay, recently named the world’s best overall island, from deteriorating.

In a Senate hearing, Paje said notices have already been issued to the stall owners to voluntarily demolish their structures within the next three months.Paje said more than 100 stalls would be affected.

If the stall owners refuse to heed the order, Paje said the government itself would demolish the structures.