President Rodrigo Duterte. SCREENGRAB FROM RTVM VIDEO
President Rodrigo Duterte told Palawan officials to take care of the island and protect it from overexploitation as he warned that it might end up like Boracay island.
“Itong (lugar) ninyo, linisin ninyo. Huwag ninyong i-overload. Bantay kayo diyan,” the President said Saturday during his speech in Puerto Princesa City.
Duterte spoke two weeks after the reopening of world-renowned Boracay that was closed for six months for rehabilitation.
Palawan is host to El Nido, Coron, and other famous tourist attractions.
“Protect your crown jewel, which is really ‘yung magagandang lugar. Avoid overcrowding,” he added.
Duterte said that if the influx of tourists wasn’t controlled, Palawan might end up like Boracay.
The Chief Executive urged officials to stop hotels from operating near the beach.
“Do not allow ‘yung mga hotels near sa easement. Ipalayo nyo. Sabihin nyo doon kayo sa malayo,” he said.
He stressed that beaches and the sea are for the people.
They are the “property of the national government. Nobody can claim ownership” to those, he added.
According to Duterte, the management of hotels should also help in preserving the island.
He said he was giving notice to hotels and warned them against polluting the sea with their sewage.
“To all hotels na nag-operate diyan sa dagat, huwag nyong itapon ‘yung tubo ninyo diretso,” he said. “If you want to build a hotel, have a water treatment (facility),” Duterte added. /cbb