No more extension on Boracay closure — Cynthia Villar

The closure of Boracay Island will end on October 25 and will not be extended beyond that date, Senator Cynthia Villar said on Monday.

Villar’s firm announcement surfaced even as officials tasked to rehabilitate the tourist hotspot revealed that only 30 percent of the establishments can reopen on its relaunch on October 26.

“Hindi na. Too much na iyon (Not anymore. That’s too much),” said Villar, who was earlier piqued at the confusing figures given by resource persons during the Senate hearing.

READ: Villar loses cool at Senate hearing: ‘If I were the President, I would resign’

“They are willing to open at 30 percent,” she said, referring to the number of establishments that officials said could be connected to the sewer line and have its own sewage treatment plants by October.

Villar also slammed officials tasked to restore Boracay for its “low target,” which she said could be why they are not pushing faster for the recovery of the island.

“Kaya pala hindi kayo nagmamadali sa target niyo, ang baba pala ng target niyo,” said Villar, who chairs the Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources.(That’s why you are not fast-tracking your target, because your target is low.)

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

Villar commended the infrastructure repairs in the island, but lamented that the waste that could go to the waters of Boracay still poses a problem.

She said the government should offer discounts to encourage entrepreneurs hesitant to connect to the wastewater treatment since they might have been finding the fee expensive.

“Maybe we can devise some sort of a policy…para ma-encourage ang people to connect para mas maraming maka-open sa October 26,” she suggested.

(Maybe we can devise some sort of policy so it can encourage people to connect so that more establishments can reopen on October 26.)   /vvp