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Duterte says he won't shorten Boracay closure, asks for patience


President Rodrigo Duterte on Sunday said he will not shorten the six-month shutdown period for Boracay Island, and reiterated that no casino will be built on the island resort.

In a press conference at Davao International Airport upon his arrival from Singapore, Duterte said he does not plan to interfere with the recommendation of Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu, Interior officer-in-charge Eduardo Año and Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo as to the period of closure of the popular island resort.

"I do not interfere in the work of the Cabinet members. ‘Pag ‘yan ang sinabi ni --- that’s the recommendation of Cimatu, Año, and Teo then that is it," he said.

"I do not just revoke recommendations. ‘Pag nag-recommend ang isang ano, Cabinet member, it’s a 90 [percent]. ‘Yung 10 percent na ‘yan kung may abuso lang o --- but seldom," he added.

The Cabinet officials have recommended the six-month closure of Boracay Island for rehabilitation after its environmental problems have worsened.

Duterte maintained that he wanted Boracay Island cleaned up to prevent a time when it is no longer "swimmable" and "habitable."

"Look, I’m trying to clean the place. Sinabi ko sa kanila sarahan. At hindi ako nakialam, sabi ni Cimatu, one entrance pati exit. In deference to the guys there who have lived all their lives there," he said.

"Hintayin lang ninyo. Do not be impatient. ‘Pag nalinis ‘yan, ibigay ko uli sa tao ‘yan," he added.

Duterte stressed the need for a presidential proclamation to "segregate" the forestal and agricultural part of the island from its commercial part.

"It would need a law or a presidential proclamation to segregate. Wala pa kong napirmahan. Neither sabi ni President Gloria Arroyo na wala silang pinirmahan na... setting aside a portion of the island as open to commerce, commercial area," he said.

"Huwag kayong magpilit. Because ‘pag nagkagulo diyan, sarahan ko. As I have said, sa pagka ngayon, ang utak ko is I want to declare the entire island a land reform area. Ibigay ko na lang sa Filipino. How much? Five? Kikita tayo ng five million," he added.

On the other hand, Duterte reiterated that no casino will be built on the island, pointing out the "deleterious" effects of gambling.

"There will never be one. Even bingohan, saan nakita?" he said.

Duterte said he did not agree with the proposal of several businessmen involved in the casino business to put up a gaming complex on the island.

"You know, ‘yung mga bilyonaryo, mga… Okada ba ‘yan? O, lahat ‘yan sila nag-courtesy call before they started on a project. Itong mga ‘to were of the belief that that island there is okay for anything," he said.

"And since there are casinos there, they want to build casinos there. Hindi ako pumayag. Dito sa Davao, wala talaga. ‘Yung PAGCOR lang," he added.

The rehabilitation of Boracay began on April 26. —ALG, GMA News

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