A ‘New and improved’ Boracay Island awaits residents and visitors when it reopened on Oct. 26, Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu told a congressional hearing on Wednesday.
“I would like to say categorically that we will be opening Boracay on Oct. 26,” Cimatu told members of the House committee on natural resources, chaired by LPGMA Party-list Rep. Arnel Ty.
“When we started the counting, it was from April 26. But [the rehabilitation] should be made within six months, [or until] Oct. 26 or Oct. 27. But nevertheless, we will open it on Oct. 26,” he added.
The committee conducted the probe in response to the decision of the government to close the popular tourist destination to make way for its rehabilitation.
President Rodrigo Duterte had earlier described the waters of Boracay as “a cesspool” and warned that he would shut down the island, a popular tourist attraction, if it did not clean up in six months.
But Cimatu said Boracay Island had been improved.
“Categorically, I am telling you that Boracay is no longer a cesspool,” he said.
The inter-agency task force comprised of the Environment, Local Government and Tourism departments, recommended that the closure last no longer than a year, during which time restoration measures could be undertaken.
The task force gave assurances that inspections on compliance with sewage treatment and other requirements are now being conducted in tourist spots in El Nido in Palawan, Puerto Galera in Mindoro, Panglao in Bohol, and Siargao Island in Surigao del Norte.
The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Boracay earlier said establishments generated 17,737 jobs in 2017, the largest in Western Visayas.
Furthermore, the world-famous tourist destination attracted an all-time high of over 2 million local and foreign tourists in 2017, an increase of 16 percent from 2016 based on the data of the Department of Tourism.
