Department
of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Manny Piñol shared in a Facebook post how Boracay
Island now looks like after 57 days of cleaning.
Boracay island
was closed to tourist since April 26 of this year after President Rodrigo Duterte
ordered its total clean up and rehabilitation for six (6) months.
Check out
his complete report below as well as the photos he shared:
GOVERNMENT
CLEAN-UP PROGRAM HELPS
BORACAY REGAIN BEAUTY
By Manny
Piñol
The
government's Inter-Agency Task Force working under the clear directives of a
strong-willed President, has achieved in just 57 days dramatic accomplishments
in the clean-up of Boracay Island, one of the world's most popular tourist
destinations.
Boracay
Island was closed to tourists on April 26, 2018 on oraders of President Rody
Duterte who said that the popular vacation destination which draws tourists
around the world because of its blue waters and white sand beach has
degenerated into a cesspool because of neglect and extreme commercialism.
The
President's order to close down Boracay Island for six months for a total clean
up and rehabilitation was met with protests and criticisms from opposition
figures who said that closing the island to tourists was an unwise move because
it would deprive people of income opportunities and livelihood and thousands
would lose jobs.*
Others said
that the clean-up timetable of 6 months was unrealistic and that the government
will never be able to rehabilitate Boracay Island.
During the
26th Meeting of the Cabinet this month, Tourism Secretary Bernadette
Romulo-Puyat asked whether the Oct. 26 scheduled opening of the island would
push through.
President
Duterte referred her question to Environmental Secretary Roy Cimatu, head of
the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Rehabilitation of Boracay Island, who
assured the Cabinet that the island will reopen on Oct. 26 and tourists could
start flying in Oct. 27.
Drone
photos and ground shots taken today by a team of the Regional Agriculture and
Fisheries Information Division (RAFID) of the Department of Agriculture
Regional Office VI showed that indeed change has come to Boracay Island after
only 57 days of hard work by the government agencies involved.*
With four
more months to go before the scheduled reopening, there is no doubt that
Boracay Island will regain its old beauty, thanks to a President who exercised
political will and faced all odds.
Congratulations
to all members of the Inter-Agency Task Force and most of all thank you to our
iron-willed President Rody Duterte.
All photos from DA Sec. Manny Pinol's Facebook account (ctto)
