Duterte to push through with Boracay visit amid COVID-19 fears

President Rodrigo Duterte will push through with his scheduled visit to Boracay on Thursday despite the Philippines being under a state of public health emergency due to the rising number of COVID-19 cases.

Duterte’s spokesperson Salvador Panelo said Tuesday the President would lead the distribution of land titles to agrarian reform beneficiaries.

Panelo also said Duterte will have a meeting with some of the guests of Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo Puyat.

“I don’t think he will go around [Boracay],” the Palace official said when asked if the President will tour the world-famous island, which was closed to tourists for six months in 2018 to give way to rehabilitation works after Duterte called it a "cesspool."

Duterte’s upcoming visit to Boracay is part of the government’s efforts to help boost domestic tourism amid the coronavirus that has severely affected China and South Korea, two of the Philippines’ top source markets for tourists.

The President earlier announced plans to visit local tourist sites as he assured citizens that the country is safe. —KBK, GMA News