No closure of Boracay over peak season, Palace says

Those who are eyeing to spend their summer getaway in Boracay may proceed with their plan, Malacañang said on Thursday.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the possible closure of the world-famous island would not happen during the peak season over the summer months.

“Proceed to Boracay, especially since its Holy Week. I don’t think any closure will happen during the peak season of Boracay,” Roque said at a press briefing.

Roque said that if President Rodrigo Duterte would accept the proposal of Cabinet secretaries to shut down Boracay for a year to make way for its rehabilitation, it would be implemented during the lean season.

This he said should minimize the impact on the tourism sector.

The Palace official also reminded business developers on the island as regards the moratorium on making further improvements in their establishments.

“Whatever happens to Boracay, what’s imperative now is to lay down expanded infrastructure for both drainage and sewage treatment facilities,” Roque said.

Earlier in the day, stakeholders said the impending closure of the prime tourist destination may result in at least P56 billion in foregone revenues and render 36,000 people jobless.

The stakeholders which include Philippine Tour Operators Association (PHILTOA), Philippine Travel Agencies Association (PTAA), Tourism Congress Association of the Philippines, and Boracay Foundation are now seeking for a dialogue with the government.

What they want is to be given ample time to prepare for the closure of the island resort.

As this developed, Roque said he did not know how the temporary closure will affect the setting up of the $500-million casino resort hotel that Leisure and Resorts World Corp. planned to put up with Macau's Galaxy Entertainment Group Ltd.

“I don’t really know how the temporary closure will affect the casinos because they will have to construct....[pero] gaya ng sinabi ko po the last time: Caveat developer! Warning to the developer, they should know that all their development plans hinges on what the President will decide upon on the issue of Boracay,” he said.

“But right now, there’s a moratorium on news improvements. So, they can’t build, even if they wanted to today, because of the moratorium,” Roque added.

The construction of the casino hotel on the 23-hectare property in Boracay is expected to begin next year. —NB, GMA News