Everybody happy over reopening of Boracay —acting Malay, Aklan mayor

Residents and workers of the world famous Boracay Island are happy over the reopening the island to tourists, acting Mayor Abram Sualog of Malay, Aklan where Boracay is located said Friday.

“Masaya kami rito kasi nabuksan na ang island,” Sualog said in an interview with Balitanghali.

“Lahat ng taga Boracay... mga stakeholders, workers, masaya. Pati turistang dumarating, masaya po lahat,” Sualog added.

Prior to Boracay’s closure six months ago, the government estimated that this would result in P56 billion worth of foregone revenues.

At least 7,000 hotel rooms will be made available to tourists on Day 1 of the reopening of the Boracay island on Friday, October 26.

Environment and Natural Resources department Undersecretary Jonas Leones, however, said last week that job losses in the island are inevitable despite the reopening because most of those workers in Boracay are employed by hotels and not all hotels have been found compliant with laws to be allowed to operate again.

It was President Rodrigo Duterte who ordered Boracay's closure in April, saying that it has become a cesspool due to poor sewage system in the island.

According to Leones, Boracay has been accommodating 70,000 people or more than its ideal carrying capacity of 54,000 before it was ordered closed by President Duterte.

Surprise suspension

Sualog admitted that he was caught off guard that the Office of the Ombudsman issued a suspension order on Malay Mayor Ceciron Cawaling less than a day before Boracay island's reopening after a six-month closure.

The Ombudsman's suspension on Cawaling stemmed from the charges of graft, grave misconduct, gross neglect of duty, conduct unbecoming of public officials and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service filed by the Department of Interior and Local Government against 17 Malay local officials, including Cawaling and Sualog, over their alleged negligence in the management of Boracay Island.

The Ombudsman, however, only issued a suspension order against Cawaling.

“Wala akong idea na mangyayari iyong [suspension kay Mayor] kahapon. The DILG Regional Director just called me to assume post. Hindi po kami nagkausap ni Mayor tungkol diyan,” Sualog said.

Sualog also refused to comment on the merits of the cases filed against them.

“Nasa Ombudsman na po iyon, kaya sila na ang bahalang magdetermine [kung ano ang kahihitnan ng kaso],” Sualog added. — MDM, GMA News