“Kung ako ang Presidente, magre-resign na ako (If I were the President, I would resign).”
An exasperated Senator Cynthia Villar uttered these words on Monday as she repeatedly lost her temper during the hearing of the Senate committee on environment and natural resources on Boracay rehabilitation.
In particular, Villar complained about the confusing figures that resource persons were giving the committee regarding the number of establishments that would be ready for the scheduled reopening of the island on October 26.
“Alam nyo nililito nyo naman ako para di ko maitindihan e. Ako ganun ang feeling ko (You are confusing me so I would not understand. That’s how I feel),” she said.
“Kung ano-ano ang report na binibigay nyo sa akin kadami-daming report, para diko maintindihan, para walang mangayri sa atin. Ako napapagod na ako (You are giving me all sorts of reports, so many reports so I wouldn’t understand and nothing will happen. I’m getting tired),” the senator added.
Villar wanted to know the exact number of establishments that can comply with the requirements in time for the reopening of Boracay.
She wondered why it seemed difficult for authorities to come up with a report when the island is only 1,000 hectares.
“Alam nyo yung 1, 000 hectares, isang subdivision lang sa amin sa Las Pinas,” said Villar, whose family is in the real estate business.
At this point, Interior Undersecretary Epimaco Densing III told the committee that the Boracay inspection committee of the Department of the Interior and Local Government had inspected 2, 384 establishments on the island.
Of the number, Densing said only 71 of the 440 resorts hotels and inns were compliant with the requirements.
Villar snapped when another resource person provided another figure on the number of establishments that may operate on the island by October 26.
“Matutuwa ba si presidente na ganyan ang magko-comply? Ilan ang magko-comply 60? Bubuksan nyo ang Boracay na 60 ang nag-comply (Would the President be happy with that number? How many can comply with the requirements? You will reopen Boracay with only 60 establishments)?” she asked.
“Kung ako ang Presidente, magre resign na ako,” she said, “Totoo yan, magre-resign na ako…anim na buwan mong isinara tapos after six months, ilan magko comply (If I were the President, I will resign. That’s the truth, I will resign…you close Boracay for six months, then you will reopen with only 60 establishments)?” /ee