Boracay rehab to be turned over to LGU as task force expires June 30, Año says

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año on Wednesday said the rehabilitation of Boracay Island would be turned over to the local government unit as the inter-agency task force will be dissolved on June 30.

In a radio interview, Año said almost all rehabilitation projects on the island are already done except for some parts that were halted by the COVID-19  pandemic.

“Yung sa Boracay kasi hanggang June 30 na lang din yung existence ng BIATF at ito ay ite-turnover na natin sa LGU. Bale yung LGU na yung magiging pinakamagpapatakbo ng Boracay,” he said.

(The existence of the Boracay Inter-Agency Task Force will expire on June 30 and this will be turned over to the LGU. So the LGU will lead the rehabilitation in Boracay.)

He said the national government may still take over the rehabilitation of Boracay if the next president issues an order forming a new task force under the new administration.

In September 2021, President Rodrigo Duterte issued Executive Order (EO) 147 extending the term of the BIATF until June 30, 2022 or the day he steps down as President.

In 2018 through EO 53, the BIATF was created “to facilitate the rehabilitation and ensure the ecological sustainability of the island of Boracay.” — Joviland Rita/RSJ, GMA News