Duterte says Boracay rehab the start of restoring tourist spots

The government's efforts to rehabilitate Boracay Island is just the start of restoring the Philippines' other tourist spots, President Rodrigo Duterte said Monday.

"We intend to restore its environmental integrity, alongside measures to alleviate those whose livelihood were momentarily affected. Environmental protection and ensuring the health of our people cannot be overemphasized; thus, our actions in Boracay mark the beginning of a new national effort," Duterte said in his State of the Nation Address (SONA) before a joint session of Congress at the Batasang Pambansa.

"This is just the beginning. For the other tourist destinations needing urgent rehabilitation and enforcement of environmental and other laws shall soon follow," Duterte added.

Duterte ordered the closure of the popular tourist destination for six months starting April 26 due to worsening environmental problems.

Earlier this month, Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu announced that the island would be opened again to the public on October 26.

Duterte stressed that what happened to Boracay was the "indication of the long-overdue need to rationalize the utilization, management, and development of our lands."

The Chief Executive then called on the Senate to pass the National Land Use Act (NALUA), which aims to create a comprehensive framework to institutionalize land use and planning, as well as land allocation priorities.

"I therefore urge the Senate to urgently pass the National Land Use Act to put in place a national land use policy that will address our competing land requirements for food, housing, businesses, and environmental conservation," Duterte said.

"To help safeguard the present and the future generations, we have to earnestly undertake initiatives to reduce our vulnerabilities to natural hazards, and bolster our resilience to the impact of natural disasters and climate change," he added.

Duterte also urged other local government units to "proactively enforce environmental laws" as regards maintaining tourist destinations. — BM, GMA News