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DILG greenlights Oct. 26 reopening of Boracay
PNP TO BE ON FULL ALERT IF NEEDED ON BORACAY REOPENING
Boracay closure
President Rodrigo Duterte had branded the renowned white-sand resort a “cesspool” fouled by dumped sewage and imposed the temporary ban on visitors that is due to take effect Thursday April 26, 2018.
Authorities on Tuesday held a practice run of security measures, asking residents of the tiny island to present identification cards at the gateway port of Caticlan to be allowed entry.
In Boracay, police conducted exercises simulating clashes with protesters, terrorist attacks and a hostage incident even as they said there was no specific threat.
“In any plan we need maximum contingency. We will have an assessment if we need to add or reduce our forces but we now have enough forces,” local police official Jesus Cambay told AFP.
Once hailed as one of the world’s top holiday destinations by travel magazines, Boracay is among Southeast Asian destinations reeling from decades of unchecked tourism and environmental degradation.
Officials have warned the island’s drainage system is being used to send untreated sewage from hotels and restaurants into its turquoise waters.
Duterte has threatened to arrest people who try to block government efforts to rehabilitate the sewage system and demolish illegal structures.
With no sign in sight of resistance to the clean-up, some residents were surprised by the presence of more than 600 policemen.
“I think it’s excessive. Why does Boracay have so many policemen?” tour promoter Jessie Ibon told AFP.
“It might scare the tourists, seeing soldiers with long firearms.”
Workers said they did not mind security checks, adding they were more worried about their jobs.
The closure threatens the livelihood of 17,000 hotel, restaurant and other tourism workers, plus about 11,000 construction workers.
“There’s no problem with presenting IDs. It’s no hassle. But the income is the huge problem. Of the 100 percent income we used to get, it’s now down to 15 percent,” resort housekeeper Ernida Jimenez told AFP.
The last remaining tourists went swimming despite the algae-tined waters near shore, which the government said was due to sewage being dumped into the waters.
Authorities on Tuesday held a practice run of security measures, asking residents of the tiny island to present identification cards at the gateway port of Caticlan to be allowed entry.
In Boracay, police conducted exercises simulating clashes with protesters, terrorist attacks and a hostage incident even as they said there was no specific threat.
“In any plan we need maximum contingency. We will have an assessment if we need to add or reduce our forces but we now have enough forces,” local police official Jesus Cambay told AFP.
Once hailed as one of the world’s top holiday destinations by travel magazines, Boracay is among Southeast Asian destinations reeling from decades of unchecked tourism and environmental degradation.
Officials have warned the island’s drainage system is being used to send untreated sewage from hotels and restaurants into its turquoise waters.
Duterte has threatened to arrest people who try to block government efforts to rehabilitate the sewage system and demolish illegal structures.
With no sign in sight of resistance to the clean-up, some residents were surprised by the presence of more than 600 policemen.
“I think it’s excessive. Why does Boracay have so many policemen?” tour promoter Jessie Ibon told AFP.
“It might scare the tourists, seeing soldiers with long firearms.”
Workers said they did not mind security checks, adding they were more worried about their jobs.
The closure threatens the livelihood of 17,000 hotel, restaurant and other tourism workers, plus about 11,000 construction workers.
“There’s no problem with presenting IDs. It’s no hassle. But the income is the huge problem. Of the 100 percent income we used to get, it’s now down to 15 percent,” resort housekeeper Ernida Jimenez told AFP.
The last remaining tourists went swimming despite the algae-tined waters near shore, which the government said was due to sewage being dumped into the waters.
Sandcastles like this one are a regular feature in Boracay
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| Boracay Girls 2015 |
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| Boracay beach and boracay girls |
Boracay’s enchanting white beach Boracay is the seventh best beach in the world for 2015, The island of Boracay was cited for its calm, warm waters and gently sloping sand and relaxing feel. It was also mentioned as possibly “the most beautiful beach in Asia.” Traveler’s Choice awards for beaches were based on travelers’ reviews in terms of quantity and quality collected over 12 months.
Panampangan Island at the municipality of Sapa-Sapa of Tawi-Tawi is well known for beachgoers who take pleasure in island-hopping and exploring sights that are unspoilt thus also named Virgin Island.
Boracay Sunset Beauty
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| White ripples of sand formed in the pristine waters as small sailboats glided peacefully in the horizon. The water is beautiful with many different shades of blue colored like a pastel painting. Seeeing that it can be easily understood why Boracay Island was known as the “Jewel of the Philippines” |
Boracay beautiful beach...
The growing cruise tourism, more luxury international cruise ships are expected to dock in Boracay Island in the coming months.
Around 12 to 15 world-class cruise ships will set sail to Boracay next year, bringing thousands of international tourists and crew members to one of the world’s best beaches.
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