Duterte to Shutdown Boracay for 6 Months

A spokesperson of the Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte confirmed last Thursday that the entire island of Boracay will be closed in order for a ‘massive clean-up’. Thousands of employees may lose their jobs within the 6 months of the shutdown starting this April 26, 2018.

Shutdown Boracay – Tourist Island

The whole island of Boracay is known for being one of the most visited tourist attraction in the Philippines. It is world-wide known for its resorts and white sand beaches and thousands of business that caters all sorts of services. It is no surprise that thousands of employees are not in favor of shutting the island for the fears of losing their job. The main reason of shutting the whole tourist island is to receive a massive clean-up of sewage and to upgrade their drainage systems.

Jobs Lost Due to Massive Clean-Up

Boracay generates about 90 to 115 tons of garbage daily; infrastructures are only allowed to remove 30 tons. Being one of the top tourist destination in the country, it is a top priority for the president to make sure it is safe for both the tourists and the locals and residents on the island. Thousands of employees may be jobless. However, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) may be of help by providing aid through its cash-for-work program.

The struggle is real for all businesses and even government offices.

There will be no income and we have bills to pay so I don’t know how I will survive,” Tourism Undersecretary Frederick Alegre said.

And it’s just something that we have to do; it’s a temporary setback but we will recover the glory days of Boracay,” he added.