Boracay closure could be less than six months —DOT exec

The Department of Tourism on Sunday clarified that the closure of Boracay Island could take less than six months if rehabilitation efforts there would be completed immediately.

In a Super Radyo dzBB interview, DOT Assistant Secretary Ricky Alegre said that the six-month closure of the popular tourist destination was just a recommendation, but the duration of the shutdown will depend on the pace of the cleanup process.

"Ang recommendation ay lagyan na ng term [yung closure] which is six months, pero maaaring yan maging less than six months ang maging closure, depende sa mga tulong ng taumbayan," Alege said.

Due to the island's environmental issues, the Departments of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Interior and Local Government, and Tourism decided to recommend the closure of Boracay to tourism activities, which will take effect on April 26, and valid for six months thereafter.

Alegre said the biggest environmental problem hounding the island was the discharge of untreated waste water to the beach.

"Ang pinakamalaking problema kasi diyan yung discharge ng sewerage sa dagat na umaabot sa levels ng 18,000 mpn (most probable number), ang allowed lang ay 400 mpn so you can imagine gaano na katindi yung lumalabas doon.

The MPN method is used to determine the concentration of microorganisms in the sample water.

Alegre explained that shutdown would help in decreasing the discharge of untreated waste water direct to the beach.

The closure of the island would also mean temporarily cutting of the water connection in the area, he added, to stop any tourism activity.

"Ang binanggit ng DENR sa task force, puputulin ang water connection. Kapag naglabas ng tubig, kasi distributor yung Boracay Island Water. Kapag nag-distribute ng water yan, let's say 1 million cubic [meter] load ng tubig, kailangan mo rin mag-treat nang ganun karami," he said.

"Kaya hindi pwedeng magkaroon ng bisita. Pwede silang mag-open pero walang water supply," he added.

Despite the closure, Alegre believes that establishments in the island would cooperate in the government's rehabilitation efforts and would not relocate their employees.

"Sa bilang na 17,000 workers, naniniwala naman kami na karamihan ng establishments ay hindi naman magdi-dislocate ng workers, kasi kailangan din sila sa pagtulong sa paglilinis ng establishment nila at sa paglilinis ng Boracay," he said.  —LBG, GMA News