President Rodrigo Duterte has declared a state of calamity in Boracay following its total closure for six months.
He signed Proclamation No. 475 placing the villages of Manoc-Manoc, Balabag and Yapak under state of calamity.
Duterte has approved the total closure of Boracay to tourists starting April 26, to allow the rehabilitation of the island, which he earlier tagged as a “cesspool.”
The world-famous Boracay, known for its powdery white sand and azure waters, drew millions of tourists annually.
“It’s amazing place. It’s my first time here. I adore Boracay. It has good beaches and water. Amazing people, good people,” said Jane, a visitor from Russia.
Jane and her partner James boarded a boat to leave Boracay as local officials implemented the shutdown of the resort island at 12:01 a.m. on Thursday.
The couple were off to their next adventure in nearby Cebu province, one of the top tourist destinations in the Visayas.
Promising to go back to the island when it opens in November, Jane hoped that the rehabilitation work would clean Boracay and the island would again become immaculate.