PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte will not issue an executive order on the rehabilitation of tourist spots Panglao Island in Bohol and El Nido in Palawan, Malacañang said on Wednesday, December 5.

This was agreed upon during a Cabinet meeting presided over by Duterte at the Malacañan Palace on Tuesday, December 4, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said.

"On the rehabilitation of Panglao Island in Bohol and El Nido in Palawan, the Cabinet agreed that there is no need to issue an Executive Order," the Palace official said in a statement.

On November 9, the Department of Tourism announced the government's plan to also evaluate other tourist destinations needing rehabilitation, which include areas in Bohol and Palawan.

The government's move came following the recent re-opening of Boracay Island, which was closed to tourists for six months to pave the way for its rehabilitation.

Duterte earlier signed Proclamation 475, placing three villages of Boracay under a state of calamity, as the six-month closure of the island took effect on April 26.

Boracay reopened on October 26 and Duterte said he was "very pleased" with the government's efforts to rehabilitate the renowned tourist spot.

As early as April 10, Eligio Ildefonso, executive director of the National Solid Waste Management Commission, revealed that Panglao and El Nido are also facing environment challenges just like Boracay.

On November 28, an inter-agency task force that led the clean-up of Boracay conducted a surprise inspection in El Nido and concluded that the world-famous island of Palawan faces environmental issues similar to Boracay. (SunStar Philippines)