DOT, DENR, DILG recommend total closure of Boracay for up to 1 year

The Departments of Environment and Natural Resources, Interior and Local Government, and Tourism recommended the total closure of island resort Boracay so it can be rehabilitated.

BREAKING: After a series of inter-agency meetings among the Dept of Environment and Natural Resources, the Dept of Interior and Local Govt and the Dept of Tourism and public consultations, a decision has been made to recommend the total closure of Boracay.#SaveBoracay pic.twitter.com/3TOz58WGdU

— Visit Philippines (@TourismPHL) March 15, 2018

Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu, Interior officer-in-charge Eduardo Año, and Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo announced their recommendation to the President on Thursday.

“For public health, public interest, and general welfare, I recommend to the President the closure of Boracay island as tourist destination for a maximum of one year effective one month after the declaration,” Cimatu said in a statement.

The departments recommended the to do the following improvements while the island is closed:

• Upgrading the sewerage system, including sewer lines, to meet the requirement of the entire island as a major tourist destination

• Installation of all the required solid waste management facilities and mechanisms in addition to full compliance with provisions of the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act

• Removal of illegal structures in forestlands and wetlands, easement areas and even geologically hazardous areas such as those with sink holes

• Road widening and construction, pipe laying and excavations

• Rationalization of a transportation system

Cimatu said closing the island resort to tourism will give ample time to undisrupted implementation of measures restoring and eventually sustaining Boracay as a prime tourism destination. —VDS, GMA News