‘No pain, no gain,’ Cimatu says of planned closure of Boracay

Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu (standing, right) attends the meeting of the Panglao Island and Tagbilaran Executive Council (PITEC) on Monday, March 19, 2018. Cimatu was in Bohol to inspect on Tuesday the erring establishments with alleged violations of environmental laws and regulations on Panglao Island. (Photo by LEO UDTOHAN / Inquirer Visayas)

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol — “No pain, no gain.”

This was the reaction of Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu on the appeal being made by residents and resort owners on Boracay Island not to close down the island-resort.

He said a little sacrifice would be needed to save the country’s premier tourist destination from environmental degradation.

“We hope for the best kung ano ang magagawa natin [on what else can we do],” Cimatu said. “ Kawawa yung mga nag-trabaho dun, totoo naman [Yes, it is true that the people will be pitiful of they lose their jobs]. We need to do it. As they say ‘no pain no gain.’ Masakit man pero [It’s painful but] this is what we should do.”

Cimatu said he recommended the closure of Boracay for a maximum of a year to allow the rehabilitation and recovery of the tourist island from its environmental woes.

Asked by reporters if President Rodrigo Dutertete would approve it, replied: “Depende, wala pa [It depends. Nothing yet].”

“Well, we make the recommendation. Really, it will be dependent on the decision makers. As of now, hindi pa natin alam kung ano ang decision [We don’t know their decision],” he added.

Cimutu arrived in Bohol on Monday to inspect establishments on Panglao Island for possible violations of environmental laws.

Cimatu said he would inspect Panglao Island on Tuesday with National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) chief and Socio-economic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia.

“We will check if they are really compliant, if the establishment is compliant. Makikita bukas [We’ll see tomorrow],” he said.

His inspection was supposedly scheduled on Monday afternoon but was moved to Tuesday morning.

Cimatu went to Barangay Macaas in Tubigon town to attend the 37th founding anniversary of the 47 Infantry Battalion.

After Tubigon, he went to Balilihan town for the launching of the peace pocket forest.

At 3:30 p.m., he attended the meeting with Panglao Island and Tagbilaran Executive Council (PITEC) presided by Bohol Gov. Edgar Chatto.

Cimatu was updated on Panglao’s proposed waste water treatment facility on Panglao Island, the water quality in the coastal waters and issues on the easement within the environmental protection zone.

He was also briefed on the policy action and initiatives to address the different environmental concerns of Panglao Island, known as Bohol’s tourism jewel.

In his speech, Cimatu challenged the local leaders and stakeholders to think about Panglao’s future.

“What will happen to Panglao 30 years from now? Para malaman ninyo [So you know] this is the problem there [Boracay]. It was overdeveloped,” he said.

He added what happened to Boracay should not happen again.

Cimatu, a former chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, said he didn’t want Panglao has to suffer the same fate as Boracay.

“And the ball is at your hands, especially the youth,” he said. “Yung mga 12 years old and 15 years old ngayon [Those from 12 years old to 15 years old, they] will someone inherit Panglao Beach in the future. Just wish them the best of luck this is the only way to avoid another Boracay.” /atm