Only 30 percent of establishments in Boracay can reopen in October — DILG exec

Only 30 percent of establishments in Boracay can reopen on its target relaunch of October 26, an official of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said on Monday.

In a Senate hearing, Interior Secretary Epimaco Densing III said they target around 30 percent of establishments in the island to be connected to the sewer system and have its own sewage treatment plants (STP) by October.

“Hopefully ‘yung 30 percent nakakabit lahat sa sewer line at may sariling STP (Hopefully, the 30 percent will be connected to the sewer line and have its own STP),” he said.

However Senator Cynthia Villar, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, opposed this target, saying the tourist spot in Aklan cannot reopen with only a few functional establishments.

“Kung ako presidente, magreresign na ko. Ang kahihiyan ko sa tao, anim na buwan ko isinara tapos after six months eh ilan ang magko-comply?” she said.

(If I were president, I will resign. I will be embarrassed before the people. I closed it for six months, but how many will comply?)

“We cannot open Boracay na ganito (like this),” Villar said.

The senator also advised that government officials tasked to rehabilitate Boracay should help local businesses to comply with policies for it to be allowed to reopen.

“It’s the responsibilty of the government to make them understand what we want them to do,” Villar said.

“I’m so disappointed […]. I’m so surprised na wala palang policy na ganun (that there is no policy like that),” she added.

Boracay has been closed to tourists for months after local businesses were found to be damaging the island.

Densing during the Senate hearing said many of the establishments in Boracay were built without permits from government agencies.   /vvp

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