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[av_heading heading=’‘Workers to receive aid if Boracay closes for a year’’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=’30’ subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’18’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”][/av_heading]
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Sunday, March 18, 2018
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BORACAY – Workers will receive aid from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) should President Rodrigo Duterte decides to close this world-famous island for a year, DENR undersecretary Jonas Leones said.
“Magkakaroon tayo ng plano diyan, lalo na ‘yung mga workers na madidismiss,” Leones said during his Friday interview on Balitanghali.
He added that they will speed up the rehabilitation to minimize the damages to workers.
Leones said rehabilitation efforts will be worth it in the end. He cited Phuket and Pattaya in Thailand as models of islands that were shut down but reopened with improved profits and a sustainable environment.
“May mga maapektuhan na workers, mga turista, pero para ito sa bayan ‘e,” Leones added. “Nakita naman natin sa experience nila, talagang naging sustainable development du’n sa area, at tsaka mga tao du’n, mas lalong lumaki pa ang kita nila nu’ng maayos ‘yung mga sinaradong resort nila du’n.”
Leones also asked business owners and residents for their cooperation with the government’s efforts to restore Boracay.
The DENR, Department of the Interior and Local Government, and Department of Tourism have recommended a year-long shutdown for the island’s rehabilitation.
Among the efforts that will be undertaken to restore the island are: rehabilitation of the sewerage system; building solid waste management facilities and mechanisms to follow the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act; removal of illegal structures on forest lands and wetlands, easement areas, and geologically hazardous areas such as sinkholes; road-widening, pipe-laying, and excavations; and improvement of the transport system.
“This is just a recommendation. It will be up to the President to decide on the closure,” Leones said. (With a report from GMA News/PN)
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