No time will be wasted for Boracay rehab – Malay gov’t

No time will be wasted during the six-month rehabilitation period of this famed island destination, the local government of Malay, Aklan assured.

The statement came after President Rodrigo Duterte approved the recommendation to close the island to tourists starting April 26, Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said on Wednesday evening.

The recommendation was jointly made by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the Department of Tourism, and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).

The agencies, which are a part of the inter-agency group tasked to restore Boracay, sent the recommendation on March 22 to the Office of the President.

Duterte would also declare Boracay under a state of calamity, Roque added.

“The local government of Malay certainly will be cooperative on whatever plans and programs the national government has in mind for Boracay,” said Executive Assistant to the Mayor Rowen Aguirre on Thursday.

Aguirre added that the local government is now awaiting instructions from the inter-agency group.

DILG secretary Eduardo Año is expected to arrive in the island today to meet Mayor Ceciron Cawaling for a dialogue.

According to Roque, the President decided to approve the six-month closure recommendation during a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday.

Senior Deputy Executive Secretary Menardo Guevarra told Panay News “calamity funds will be activated to tide affected workers over.”

The Department of Trade and Industry earlier warned of the closure’s adverse effects on businesses and livelihood in Boracay and suggested that the closure be carried out by phases.