Majority of Filipinos back Boracay closure – survey

Tuesday, July 3, 2018

env't plastic ban 1 — A man picks up trash on the coastline of Boracay, in this October 2017 photo. He uses a plastic bag to gather the trash, which he would properly dispose of later. Before Boracay was closed off to tourists beginning April 26 this year, it generates an estimated 90 to 115 tons of garbage a day, but only 30 to 40 tons are hauled out to mainland Malay, Aklan. LEA MAE PARK/FACEBOOK

MANILA – Malacañang on Monday welcomed the results of a survey showing majority of Filipinos support the closure of Boracay Island.

This means President Rodrigo Duterte was right to decide to shut down the island for six months, said Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque Jr.

“Palace [is] vindicated and welcomes the support of the people,” Roque said in a statement.

Sixty-four percent of Filipinos support the Boracay closure for a year to pave way for its rehabilitation, according to Social Weather Stations.

Only 20 percent opposed the total closure while 17 percent said they were undecided, the survey showed.

Moreover the survey showed 61 percent of the respondents believe the closure would help bring in more tourists to the island; 16 percent disagreed and 23 percent were undecided.

Duterte said Boracay had become a “cesspool” because of its drainage and other environmental problems. He ordered its six-month closure starting April./PN