AS PART of the government's continuing effort to save the world-renowned Boracay Island, President Rodrigo Duterte has approved the P25-billion Medium-Term Boracay Action Plan that will install safeguards from ecological degradation and sustain tourism activities on the island, Malacañang announced Tuesday, July 2.
Duterte gave his approval during the 39th Cabinet meeting held at the Malacañan Palace on Monday, July 1, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a statement.
"We likewise announce the [Duterte's] approval of the Boracay Medium-Term Action Plan, which will sustain the efforts of the government after its closure," the Palace official said.
The plan, adopted by the Boracay Inter-Agency Task Force in December 2018, contains programs and activities that will be implemented to follow through the environmental rehabilitation conducted during Boracay's six-month closure from April to October 2018.
The plan has four thematic areas, which include enforcement of laws and regulations; pollution control and prevention; rehabilitation and recovery of the ecosystem; and sustainability of island activities.
During the Cabinet meeting, Panelo said National Economic and Development Authority Director General and Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia and Undersecretary Adoracion Navarro had noted that by enforcing laws, "there will be intervention on the regulation of visitors and hotel accommodations."
Panelo likewise stressed that the government would focus on the sewerage infrastructure, solid and liquid waste management to reduce pollution in Boracay.
The Palace official added that in order to sustain activities on the island, the medium-term plan intends to improve roads and public health infrastructure, as well as construct permanent housing program for indigenous people and education facilities.
The proposed estimated total investment requirement for the Medium-Term Boracy Action Plan is P25.27 billion for all thematic areas. The private sector is expected to finance P15.89 billion of the total cost. (SunStar Philippines)