Part of Boracay shoreline closed for cleanup after pooping incident
MANILA, Philippines — A portion of Boracay’s shoreline was closed Wednesday to conduct a 48 to 72-hour cleanup after a foreign tourist supposedly let her child defecate in its waters, Tourism chief Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said.
Puyat confirmed Environment Sec. Roy Cimatu instructed Boracay Inter-agency Task Force (BITF) General Manager Natividad Bernardino to isolate the area for the cleanup.
“Sec Cimatu instructed GM Natividad Bernardino to isolate the area, where the incident happened with markers 100 meters wide on the shoreline ‘No swimming, this area is under clean up’ for a period of 48 to 72 hours,” Puyat told INQUIRER.net in a text message.
A video of a foreign national supposedly letting a toddler poop near the shoreline at Boracay Station 1 recently went viral on social media.
Mainland Chinese tourists in Boracay is seen burying her daugters' used diapers on the white sands of Boracay. 😤 #Boracay #Station1CTTO 🎥 Hazel Ann
Puyat urged the public to report such incidents to authorities should they witness one to let them face penalties for violating environmental laws.
“This was an unfortunate incident but we will not tolerate those who violate the law,” Puyat said.
“We encourage the public, who might witness similar incidents, to immediately report offenders to the proper authorities so that they can be promptly apprehended and fined accordingly,” she added.
Malay town’s “Anti-Littering” ordinance prohibits defecating, urinating, spitting, vandalizing and dumping trash in public places like Boracay.
Furthermore, Puyat vowed the tourism agency will intensify its drive to inform tourists of “travel etiquette” when visiting the country.
“We will continue to coordinate with the tour operators and travel agencies in informing our tourists of the proper travel etiquette when visiting the Philippines and the corresponding fines and punishments if these are not followed,” she said.
It was in October 2018 when Boracay reopened after a six-month shut down for rehabilitation and environmental restoration.
