Duterte maintains he wants Boracay placed under land reform

President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday reiterated that he plans to place Boracay Island under a land reform program.

At the same time, Duterte called on Congress to provide a parameter of how much of the world-famous tourist destination would be given back to business.

"The entire island will be declared as a land reform area para sagarin natin. Give it to the people. But I don't mind Congress, I would suggest if you really want to maintain the commercial quality of that place, maybe you can cut a strip...," Duterte said in a speech following the condemnation of smuggled motorcycles and vehicles at the Port of Manila.

"I do not know how you will do it but I'm telling you Boracay is still classified as forestal and agricultural."

Duterte has previously cited a Supreme Court decision in October 2008 that declared the island, which it classified as forested and agricultural, as state-owned.

Boracay was closed to tourists on April 26 to give way to a six-month rehabilitation process, as the island has been reeling from environmental degradation and unchecked tourism.

Duterte has since formed an inter-agency task force to oversee the rehabilitation efforts.

Around P1.36 billion would have to be spent by the government for the rehabilitation of Boracay, according to the Department of Budget and Management.

The amount is expected to cover the cost of providing social safety nets, ensuring health and sanitation, decongesting the island, enforcing rule of law, engaging stakeholders, and crafting and implementing a Medium-Term Rehabilitation and Recovery Program. — BM, GMA News