PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte said he was amenable to a long-term closure of Boracay island to pave way for the rehabilitation of the famous resort island. The DILG, the Department Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Department of Tourism had recommended the closure of Boracay island in Malay, Aklan for a maximum of one year. On Monday, March 19, Palace spokesman Harry Roque Jr. gave assurance that there would be no “permanent closure” of Boracay. “Our committee report is for temporary closure of the Boracay island in order to address the discharging untreated waste water into the beach. Torres-Gomez noted that while the closure of Boracay island would mean P5 billion worth of losses a month, the sustainability of the island should be prioritized.

Source: Manila Times March 21, 2018 17:26 UTC