More establishments to be dismantled under 60-day Boracay rehab plan

More establishments will be dismantled for breaking environmental laws during the 60-day rehabilitation plan of the Department of Tourism and Department (DOT) of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), an official said Saturday.

DILG Assistant Secretary for Plans and Programs Epimaco Densing III said during a news forum in Quezon City that the 60-day rehabilitation plan, which would entail shutting down establishments on the entire resort island, will be presented to President Rodrigo Duterte during the Cabinet meeting on Monday, March 5.

"There will be a lot of structures, which will be dismantled or destroyed," Densing said.

The rehabilitation plan's target time frame is from June 1 to July 31.

He called on resort owners to cooperate with the rehabilitation plan once it is approved by Duterte.

"To the businessmen in Boracay nakikiusap na kami sa inyo milyon at bilyon na ang kinita n'yo so pagbigyan n'yo naman... We appeal to your love of country," Densing said.

He said the proposal of Tourism Secretary Wando Teo and DILG officer-in-charge Eduardo Año to impose a 60-day moratorium on the operations of establishments in Boracay aims to restore the island to its pristine condition.

"Ano ba naman iyong 60 days... 60 days lang po, calendar pa 'yan, para maglinis, hindi naman tuluyang isasara," the DILG official said.

Densing also called on business owners not to "harass" or "bully" authorities who will implement orders to remove structures that are not compliant to environmental laws by filing charges.

He said the government is already conducting a demographic study to identify those who will potentially lose jobs if the 60-day closure will push through.

"Mag-a-allot kami ng bridge assistance to those who will be identified who will not make money if ever the island will be closed for rehabilitation," he said.

President Rodrigo Duterte had ordered the DILG, DOT and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to solve environmental problems in Boracay.

Duterte had threatened to close the resort island if the three department would fail to clean Boracay in 60 days. —ALG, GMA News