The island will remain closed to visitors until cleanup is completed in the next six months.
President promises to return island to residents, workers after cleanup
President Rodrigo Duterte assured Boracay residents and workers on Tuesday that his administration will only cleanup the island, after which, this will be returned to them.
In a speech which he delivered in Cebu City during the 116th Labor Day Celebration, Duterte said the island is now plagued with environ-mental problems especially sewage concerns that have remained unaddressed by its occupants.
He also pointed out that the island remains to be classified as an agricultural and forest land, while questioning how commercial establishments and multi-billion developments were allowed there.
“So, ayaw ko ninyo surang-suranga ana kay ginalimpyohan ra na nako. But after that, iuli nako ninyo. Wala’y nahangol anang island ninyo (Don’t pester me because I am just cleaning it (the island) up. But after that, I will return it to you. Nobody is being greedy with your island),” he said in his speech.
Duterte made an earlier pronouncement that he will give back lots on Boracay Island to farmers following the discovery of its land classification.
The 1,032-hectare island was ordered closed for six months starting on April 26 to pave way for the government-initiated cleanup and rehabilitation of the island.
Duterte also declared a state of calamity in barangays Balabag, Manoc-Manoc and Yapak in Malay town.
“Let me just take care of it (the island) for the next generation para mga anak ninyo, naa pay pakigkitaan (so that your children will also benefit). But you have to maintain a certain level of sanitation,” Duterte said.
While he admitted that the island’s closure has greatly affected residents and workers, Duterte said, it was “necessary.”
To caution the impact of the island’s closure especially on workers who lost their jobs, Duterte said, “I have instructed the immediate release of P448 million to Dole (Department of Labor and Employment) to provide financial support to all affected workers under the Adjustment Measures Program.”
He said that the financial support will be released starting this month and will be linked to active labor market programs such as employment facilities, services training and livelihood.
Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno earlier said the amount is expected to assist the island’s 17,735 displaced workers.
Diokno said that amount is charged to the 2018 national budget’s contingency fund of P13 billion.
He said that “the Boracay Emergency Employment Program (BEEP), which was recently launched by Dole, ensures the safety nets are in place” especially for micro, small and medium enterprises or MSMEs that had been operating in the island-resort.
As an added support for displaced workers, the state-run pension fund Social Security System (SSS) will also offer an emergency loan assistance program to its members whose livelihood were affected by the closure of Boracay Island.
The loan will be made available to qualified workers from May 2 to October 31, according to SSS President and Chief Executive Emmanuel Dooc under Circular No. 2018-010 issued last April 26. /With Inquirer Report