Roque relates Boracay issue to Earth Day 2018

The celebration of Earth Day 2018 in the Philippines has stricken a "resonant chord" with the government's decision to temporary close and rehabilitate Boracay Island due to environmental woes, according to a Palace official on Sunday.

"Today, we join the rest of the world in observing Earth Day. This year's observance of Earth Day in the Philippines has stricken a resonant chord with the government's resolve to clean and restore Boracay Island to its previous stature as one of the most beautiful and pristine beaches of the world," presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in a statement.

"This is a good wake-up call to everyone that we must not sacrifice the future ecological sustainability on the altar of economic growth and development," Roque added.

Earth Day is an annual celebration that marks the anniversary of the birth of the modern environmental movement. It is celebrated by more than a billion people every year where it calls for a day of action that changes human behavior and provokes environmental policy changes.

The Duterte administration has decided to close the tourist destination Boracay starting April 26 to address its problems.

Only residents, government officials and accredited media personnel will be allowed to enter Boracay throughout the six-month closure.

Despite reports that a casino will be built on the island, President Rodrigo Duterte has said there is no plan for the government to entertain a casino project in Boracay. — Anna Felicia Bajo/BM, GMA News