President Duterte on Monday threatened to charge local officials of Boracay with serious neglect of duty for “creating” an environmental “disaster” in the world-famous resort.
Mr. Duterte also said he had given Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu the authority to “destroy” establishments on the island that violate environmental and health regulations.
“I will charge you with serious neglect of duty for making Boracay a sewer pool. Boracay from afar is beautiful [but] you swim in Boracay and you stink with shit,” he said in a speech during the inauguration of the Malasakit Help Desk at Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City.
The President blamed the “local governments and the people” in Boracay for the environmental degradation of the 1,032-hectare island.
“You allowed the building of structures overlapping the coastline and already reaching the sea, which is not really allowed,” he said.
“You allowed buildings constructed without proper sewer or sewage. That is yours. That’s you. You created a disaster there,” he said.
Mr. Duterte noted that garbage was just about 25 meters away from the shore.
“All the hotels have no [sewage treatment]. Your water goes directly to the toilet, to the flush and to the water and then [you say it’s worth] billions,” he added.
“They say its earning millions … all structures there are worth billions. You know, I don’t give a shit. Either they will clean it up or I will close it permanently.”