Nancy Binay: Where is the concrete plan for Boracay employees?

Senate Committee on Tourism chair Nancy Binay on Thursday lamented the supposed lack of concrete plan of the government for Boracay Island employees who will temporarily lose their jobs once the island is shut down.

"Nasaan na ang kongkretong plano para sa mga manggagawa ng Boracay?" Binay said in a statement.

"Ano po ang plano ng DENR, DILG, DSWD, DOLE at DOT sa mga apektadong mga empleyado na nasa isla maging ang mga nasa informal sector?" she added.

President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday approved the recommendation of three government agencies to close the popular tourist destination for six months starting April 26 for rehabilitation.

Despite this development, Binay said the government has seemingly left out its plan for the 35,000 jobs that will be disrupted following the closure.

"Ang nakakalungkot, marami nang naapektuhan ng downsizing, and every day the number of displaced workers increases as a consequence of the shutting down of business operations," she said.

Binay said she expected a more detailed plan from the government for the affected Boracay employees.

"There should be information channels to employees and employers about impending disruptions; programs for re-employment service, unemployment insurance, cash-for-work, and direct job creation, etc.," she said.

"The goal should be to mitigate the impact brought job displacements by providing those who are working in the primary, secondary and tertiary economic sectors a clearer plan for them before the proposed shutdown," she added.

Binay is also hoping that the government will help the displaced workers to return to their jobs once operations in the island resumes.

Meanwhile, Senator JV Ejercito expressed support for the closure of Boracay Island, but also called on the government to provide livelihood for the employees.

"I have stated in the past that we need to allow Boracay to breathe and at the same time allow us to rethink our policies in order to ensure the sustainability of tourism in that area," he said in a separate statement.

"I urge the administration to provide alternative livelihood for those who will be temporarily displaced as a result of the temporary closure for six months," he added. — MDM, GMA News