Duterte supports temporary closure of Boracay

March 21, 2018

President Rodrigo Duterte has vowed to support any action to be taken by the interagency task force in rehabilitating Boracay Island in Aklan.

In a speech Tuesday night, Duterte said Interior and Local Government Officer in Charge Secretary Eduardo Ano, part of the task force,  told him it could take long to revive Boracay, whom he described of becoming a "cesspool."

His response to Ano: "General, you're there. I placed you there. Whatever is your decision I will support you. It's up to you. You just make the recommendation and if I find everything that is all right and in consonance with the...it's approved."

Aside from Ano, who recently retired as chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines,  the task force is also composed of Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu and Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo.

The task force would recommend to Duterte the closure of Boracay from tourists for one year after the president declares a state of calamity in the the famous tourist destination.

"He (Ano) said it will take something like six months. I said, 'then do it'," he said.

Duterte has yet to issue a declaration placing Boracay under the state of calamity.

Currently, illegal structures have been dismantled in the island. Celerina Monte/DMS