Boracay task force awaits DU30’s decision to continue island rehab

The Boracay Inter Agency Task Force (BIATF) is hoping that President Rodrigo Duterte will soon make a decision to whether the group will continue the rehabilitation of the world-famous island.

Al Orolfo, vice chair of the Boracay Inter Agency Rehabilitation Group, which is the management arm of the BIATF, said that they are hoping that Duterte would make his pronouncement soon. The president is expected to visit the famed-island on March 12.

“We will follow the orders of President Duterte,” Orolfo said.

Two years ago, President Duterte signed the Executive Order No. 53 to “reverse the degradation of Boracay” Island,’ to strictly enforce national laws and local ordinances and to implement and oversee policies as the duties of the BIATF.

Under the EO, the task force will be dissolved after two years from May 8, 2018, unless it will be extended by President Duterte upon the recommendation of his cabinet. It is also up to him to transfer to the local government units of Malay, Aklan the full autonomy to manage Boracay Island if the task force will no longer be needed. 

The BIATF is composed of different government agencies such as the Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Public Works and Highways, Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority, Department of Tourism, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Labor, Bureau of Immigration, among others./