Celebrities favor Boracay closure, call for sustainable measures to rehab island

Both foreign and local celebrities all over the world have expressed support for the planned closure of Boracay Island for six months, saying it is necessary to prolong the life of the island.

Rachel Grant, a British-Filipina best known for being a  James Bond girl, said in an online interview that, for many, this is a big concern and might seem like a huge step back.

“When I first heard about the closure of Boracay, I was surprised and thought of all those who would lose their jobs and businesses. But let’s look at this as possibly a huge step forward, “ she said.

Grant is best known for her role as a James Bond girl in the 2002 movie  Die Another Day, with British actor Pierce Brosnan and United States actress Halle Berry. She also appeared as Maria Ronson in the film Until Death with Belgian martial artist Jean-Claude Van Damme.

“What future will these businesses and workers have if the island becomes so polluted and unsafe for inhabitants and visitors? What about our responsibilities with caring for our natural resources, natural environment, rare marine life, endangered species and reefs? We have some of the world’s finest, and it is our duty to keep it that way,” she said.

“A healthy and beautiful environment on Boracay will lead to a stronger economy. A rehab period is very much worth the sacrifice and, if planned carefully and properly, will provide many new jobs to residents. A closure is also an opportunity to address the situation of the Ati community on Boracay—the original inhabitants who have been marginalized, moved from their ancestral homes and reduced to a community of 200,” Grant added.

Rockwell Ryan Ripperger, vocalist of the Stephen Speaks band, said in a separate interview  the beaches in the United States. Ripperger, who popularized the songs “Passenger Seat” and “Out of My League,” hails from Oklahoma, USA.

“I dont really know enough to know all the details. But what I’ve heard is true, that the sewage is getting into the water, absolutely. It is better to lose the place for a few months than to lose it forever. So many beaches in the US that used to be beautiful have become overpopulated and completely trashed, and now they are junk. No one goes there anymore. My first inclination is that this is the best move they can make so the preservation of Boracay in the long term,” Ripperger said.

Local celebrity Gabby Concepcion said he also favors the six-month closure of Boracay during a news conference in Kalibo, Aklan, on April 12.

“But I hope the national government will also put emphasis on the preservation of our coral reefs. Coral reefs in Boracay are the major food source of tourists there, as coral reefs serve as a shelter of marine life, such as fish, which is a major factor in their reproduction. Without coral reefs, there will be no fish,” he said.

Concepcion, as endorser came to visit the opening of the fourth McDonald store in Kalibo, Aklan. Two of these branches are in Boracay.

Meanwhile, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) said workers who will be affected by the closure of Boracay need not worry.

The Tesda in Region 6 is all set to help workers and residents who will be affected by the rehabilitation of Boracay Island in Aklan starting April 26.

Tesda Director General Guiling A. Mamondiong ordered officials and employees of the agency’s provincial office  to create a contingency plan that will assist the 73,522 affected residents, including 17,326 registered employees and 11,000 unregistered workers of Boracay Island.

Joel M. Villagracia, Tesda provincial director of Aklan, said they will offer free skills training to the affected workers and residents.

For the first program, Tesda will offer skills training under the Training for Work Scholarship Program, such as agri-business, information technology-business process management, semiconductors and electronics, he added.

Under the Special Training for Employment Program, the agency will offer manicure, pedicure,  sewing, massage therapy and bread-making.

“We will do an inventory of the available qualifications for the affected people so that we will know the number of available slots. For the month of April until June, we hope to train some 2,000 applicants,” Villagracia said.

Tesda officials are inviting interested applicants to enlist for the program at the Boracay Holiday (in Boracay Island), Malay mainland and at the Tesda office in Kalibo.

After they have enlisted, Tesda will profile the list of applicants so that they will determine the type of program for them and avail themselves of the National Certification.

Under the Action Plan Save Boracay, the first round of  training will start on April 26 and will end on June 30.

On April 14 the agency started its information campaign for its free skills-training program.

For the second round of training, the agency said the enrollment will start on June 15. Its classes will begin on July 1 and will wrap up on September 30.

Villagracia said the students will be given an allowance and tool kits.

President Duterte ordered the closure of the tourist island for six months to give way to the major cleanup after it was found to have violated water, waste-management and land-use regulations.

Villagracia said government agencies that coordinated with Tesda for the implementation of the action plan were the Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of Trade and Industry, Philippine National Police, local government units of Malay, technical-vocational institutions and Association TVET Schools in Aklan.