PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Monday, July 23, told the local government units to strictly implement environmental laws to avoid a repeat of the environmental degradation in the world-famous Boracay Island.
"Our actions in Boracay mark the beginning of a new national effort. This is just for the other tourist destinations needing urgent rehabilitation. And enforcement of environmental and other laws shall soon follow," Duterte said in his third State of the Nation Address (Sona).
"I urge local government units to proactively enforce our laws and not wait for us to swoop down on your areas just to do your duty and work. What has happened to Boracay is just an indication of the long overdue need to rationalize a holistic, sustainable manner in the utilization management and development our lands," he added.
Duterte gave the directive as he admitted that the national government was derelict in its duty to protect Boracay from environmental woes.
"Boracay Island, widely regarded as one of our countries' treasures and admired worldwide for its natural beauty, has sadly become the representation of governance and government's negligence, including mine. I could not allow this to continue," the President said.
"We intend to restore its environmental integrity, alongside measures to alleviate those whose livelihood were momentarily affected. Environmental protection and ensuring the health of the people cannot be overemphasized," he added.
Boracay has been closed to local and foreign tourists since April 26 to allow the national government to fix sewage and environmental-related problems hounding the island.
Duterte, who earlier described Boracay as a "cesspool," has pledged to restore the once pristine condition of the top beach destination in the country.
He has also sought to place the entire Boracay under land reform program, as he wants poor and indigenous families to beenfit from the island's profits.
The Agrarian Reform department earlier declared that some 408.5114 of 628.96 hectares of agricultural land in Boracay may be subject to proposed land reform. (SunStar Philippines)