Boracay Island had overcrowded beaches before its closure last April. (File photo by LYN RILLON / Philippine Daily Inquirer)
President Rodrigo Duterte declared on Wednesday the entire island of Boracay under land reform more than a month after shutting down the world-famous tourist destination.
“I am declaring entire land reform in the entire island of Boracay,” Duterte said in his speech at the condemnation of smuggled luxury vehicles at the Bureau of Customs in Manila. “Sagarin na natin [Let’s take it to the limit]. Give it to the people.”
He said, however, that in order to maintain the commercial quality of Boracay, Congress might cut a strip of land and put an easement of about 30 meters.
“So if you’re building a house there somewhere, I’m sorry. I will just have to make some adjustment,” the President said.