‘No order yet to close Boracay’

MANILA, Philippines — Amid concerns on the adverse effect on tourism of Boracay’s environmental degradation, Malacañang clarified yesterday that the island resort would not be closed during summer.

President Duterte’s directive is for Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu to come up with a recommendation within six months, presidential spokesman Harry Roque Jr. said yesterday.

 ”There is no order (to close the island),” Roque told a press briefing.

Even if the President orders the closure of Boracay, Roque said it would not be the first for a world-renowned tourist destination.

He said Thailand closed an island in Andaman Sea to tourists to ease the negative effects of tourism on its once pristine beaches and coral reefs.

Roque said Koh Tachai, an island in the famous Similan national park in southwest Thailand was also closed to avoid the degradation of its natural resources and environment.

Officials of the Departments of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Tourism (DOT) and the Interior and Local Government (DILG) conducted an aerial inspection of Boracay yesterday, ahead of the Senate’s inquiry into pollution and other environmental concerns of the island resort.

Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo attended a meeting with officials of the DENR and DILG officials also in Boracay. 

The government has initiated a cleanup of the island after the President, citing its sewage problems, described it as a cesspool and threatened to shut it down.

Senate hearing starts today

The Senate committees on environment and natural resources as well as tourism and finance will hold a hearing in Boracay today to identify “models” to keep the island from further degradation.

The investigation will also look into the issuance of environmental compliance certificates to several establishments despite violations of environmental laws. 

Meanwhile, several workers in Boracay expressed fear of losing their main source of livelihood if the government pushes through with the closure of the island to tourists.

Teo had earlier said the DOT is looking at closing Boracay during the southwest monsoon season to demolish establishments that encroach the easement zone. 

Mario, a hat vendor, cited the decline in the number of tourists since news about the sewage problem here came out. 

He said he supports Duterte’s plan to close the island to address the sewage problem, but hopes vendors like him are allowed to sell their merchandise to tourists.

Hotels still full

New hotels such as the Savoy Hotel, a Megaworld property with 559 rooms, remain full despite the controversy hounding Boracay.

“We have 90 percent occupancy right now,” Savoy’s general manager Adie Gallares said.

Tourist arrivals increased by 16 percent last year at 2,001,974 compared to 1,725,483 in 2016, based on data from the Malay municipal tourism office.

Chinese comprise the biggest number of tourists at 375,284, followed by South Koreans at 356,644 and Taiwanese at 40,802.