MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte urged Congress to put up a body that would oversee the world-famous Boracay Island in Malay, Aklan.
In his penultimate State of the Nation Address (SONA) yesterday, Duterte said lawmakers should push for the creation of the Boracay Island Development Authority.
This agency, according to the President, would ensure that the effects of the months-long rehabilitation of the island are sustained.
“We have shared remarkable emergence of the island back to its former glory. I want this sustained. I ask Congress to enact a law creating, importante ito, the Boracay Island Development Authority or BIDA,” Duterte said.
He likewise cited that Boracay is doing well “because of its scenery.”
“If it’s only coconut, white sand and water, wala ‘yan…pero you add the visitors there, then it becomes a very tempting destination,” the chief executive said.
For his part, Acting Malay Mayor Frolibar Bautista said: “Very good comment gid kay ti gin-appreciate nya (Duterte) man ang status sang Boracay.”
“Ang implementasyon man naton sa existing regulation isa man ina sa nakabulig para ma-back to glory ang island,” the mayor added.
In 2018, Duterte ordered the six-month closure of the top beach destination, saying Boracay has become a “cesspool.”
He also said that part of the island will be placed under the government’s land reform program to be distributed to the island’s resident Indigenous Peoples.
Earlier in the speech, the President urged Filipinos to boost the economy by traveling locally “once necessary systems are in place.”
“We enjoin our people to boost the economy by travelling locally,” President Duterte said.
Boracay was the first top tourist spot to reopen since lockdowns were enforced due to COVID-19, but only visitors from the Western Visayas are allowed to go there for now.
Western Visayas, which remains under modified general community quarantine, is comprised of the provinces of Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo, and Negros Occidental./PN
