Looming state of calamity declaration to hasten Boracay rehab —DILG chief

Placing Boracay under a state of calamity would help accelerate the rehabilitation plan of the national government for the world-renowned island, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) officer-in-charge Eduardo Año said on Wednesday.

Año said the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act — upon the recommendation of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council — may allow President Rodrigo Duterte may declare a state of calamity in Boracay.

“It (declaration of the state of calamity) will afford the national government and [local government units] sufficient elbow room to utilize their respective calamity funds for the relief, recovery, and reconstruction of areas affected by human-induced calamities and pollution happening in Boracay,” Año said in a statement.

During his visit to the island, Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu said a state of calamity may be declared in Boracay due to its environmental issues. 

Año said this is one of the options the government is studying. He, however, clarified that the closure of business establishments will only last for 60 days.

"It's one of the options we're considering because there is concern that the plan to rehabilitate Boracay Island cannot be achieved under normal circumstances, meaning when normal commercial activities are in operation,” Año said.

Efforts to rehabilitate Boracay came after Duterte threatened to have the "cesspool" island closed down if its environmental issues are not addressed within six months.

Año said the DILG also is looking into the criminal liability of local public officials that led to the "environmental crisis" in Boracay.

“Kakasuhan ang dapat kasuhan,” Año said.

The DILG chief said the efforts to save Boracay only shows the Duterte administration's resolve in implementing environmental reforms.

“The current initiative to save Boracay is a statement of the national government to Filipinos and the whole world that this administration is just as serious in its environmental reforms as with other priorities in peace and order,” Año said.

“Boracay, having been ranked among top-three beach destinations in the globe for a couple of times, does not only deserve to be maintained as world-class in its sand and water but in its overall package including public safety which will be looked into during the rehab efforts,” he added.

Barangay audit

Following his inspection of Boracay, DILG Assistant Secretary for Plans and Programs Epimaco Densing III said the agency will conduct a drainage audit of improper connections and waste disposal in Barangays  Manoc-Manoc, Balabag, and Yapak once the state of calamity is declared.

Densing said officials in these barangays were also ordered to draft a six-month rehabilitation plan for their areas.

Malay Mayor Ceciron Cawaling, meanwhile, was directed to liquidate environmental fee collections for the past 10 years.

Densing assured that the 60-day closure of businesses in Boracay would not hamper the island's tourism, saying tourists may even be more encouraged to visit once the newly-rehabilitated island reopens.

“It would allow intentional and purposive breathing space for Boracay to heal itself from human-induced degradation. And now that the world knows about Boracay being cleaned up, there is an expected influx of local and international tourists when Boracay is reopened because they would want to see how has the Island improved,” he said. — MDM, GMA News