DUTERTE MULLS CASE AGAINST AKLAN EXECS

Boracay Island beset by problems related to poor drainage, garbage management

President Rodrigo Duterte yesterday blamed local officials in Aklan for the persistent environmental problems that hound the world-famous resort island of Boracay.

The President, in a speech delivered in Cebu City, threatened to file charges against the local officials for “serious neglect of duty.”

“The local governments there -- I’m addressing myself not to people in Boracay -- you let everything happen there, the building of structures, overlapping the coast line which already reached the sea, which is not really allowed,” Duterte said at the launching of Malasakit Center at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City.

“You allowed buildings to be constructed without the proper sewer or sewerage. That’s your (fault). I will charge you for serious neglect of duty, (for) making Boracay a fishpond or a sewer pool,” he added.

Duterte’s latest warning came on the heels of his announcement on February 9 of his plan to close Boracay to tourists. The 1,032-hectare island has been hosting an increasing number of tourists, reaching over two million tourists last year.

The President, however, said he was not pleased by the tourist arrivals because Boracay has turned into an environmental disaster.

The island is beset by problems related to poor sewerage and drainage, garbage, and deforestation.

Duterte said he already instructed Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu to clean up the tourist destination in six months.

The Environment chief is collaborating with the Department of Tourism to save Boracay. Duterte, in his latest speech, said he was confident that Cimatu would heed his order to end Boracay’s environmental woes.

“It is Cimatu alone (who) will decide. If he thinks that he has to destroy (any establishments) there, he has to destroy. He has my complete trust and confidence,” the President said.

I will charge you for serious neglect of duty, (for) making Boracay a fishpond or a sewer pool. PRESIDENT RODRIGO DUTERTE