QUEZON CITY, Philippines (Eagle News) — The Department of Tourism (DOT) is confident that President Rodrigo Duterte’s directive to clean-up and rehabilitate the Boracay Island has a positive effect on the tourism in the area.
“Nakakatuwa na naging positive yung effect,” said Tourism Assistant Secretary Ricky Alegre in an interview in Net 25’s Radyo Agila.
Alegre also said that various local government units (LGUs) are now taking the initiative to clean-up and rehabilitate tourist spots within their territories, as they too want the upgrading of Boracay as a clean tourist spot.
“At a certain point kasi iwanan na natin yung Boracay, kasi matutuloy na yung infrastructure at development and upgrade. Titingnan na din natin yung ibang lugar. Ang kagandahan doon inuunahan na kami ng LGUs,” he said.
The tourism official said that the LGUs are already reporting about their own clean-up and rehabilitation activities that they are doing,
“Nagre-report na sila sa atin ngayon na ito na ang ginagawa nila, sabi nila sumasabay na kami sa paglilinis na gustong ipatupad ng Inter-Agency Tasks Force,” he said.
The official then asked the public to cooperate with the government on the rehabilitation of the island, since the long-term solution of the Boracay problem will be for the good of everyone.
“Ang gobyerno nakahandang magsakripisyo. Kasi dapat na nating isipin yung long term solution. Php56 bilyon ang kinita ng Boracay noong 2017. Ang posisyon ho ng gobyerno ano ba naman yung konting clean-up?” the official said.
Alegre said that although Boracay has been hailed as one of the international world class resort islands, it has “poor public service.”
“Kung dadating sa puntong may 60-day closure, ano naman yun dun sa pakinabang mo habang-buhay. What you will benefit from after the clean-up. Kailangan lang nating mailagay sa tama ang lahat,” he added.