60-day tourist holiday pushed

` ILOILO CITY — Amid opposition from several stakeholders, the Department of the Interior and Local Government would still apparently favor a temporary closure of the world-renowned Boracay Island.

Interior Assistant Secretary for Plans and Progams Epimaco Densing III told Bombo RadyoIloilo on Monday, March 5, they want the island to have a 60-day "tourist holiday."

Densing heads the DILG's national task force investigating the possible culpability of some local and even national government officials and agencies on Boracay’s plight.

While DILG Secretary Año wanted closure as soon as possible, Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo appealed to do it during monsoon season, considered a “low season” in Boracay.

"Si Secretary Teo naman nagkonsulta siya sa mga stakeholders at travel agents. Sabi nila, kung isasara daw, baka pwede dun sa low season. Ang position naman namin sa DILG, na binanggit ni Sec. Año, medyo parang matagal ang June 1. Kung June 1 pa natin gagawin ‘yan, tuloy pa rin ‘yung pollution, tuloy pa rin 'yung mga illegal structures na nandyan. Hindi natin maaayos ng tama," Densing said.

As such, Año still suggested that Boracay be closed, not immediately but as soon as possible, he revealed.

If it would be decided soonest that Boracay would indeed be closed, a two- to three-week allowance will be given to process the tourist holiday. But still, the decision will ultimately be with President Rodrigo Duterte.

Even the DENR Secretary earlier said he is not about to recommend the island's 60-day closure. He claimed that if the establishments will be closed, they cannot fully know if the repairs made were successful.

"We respect the opinion of Sec. Cimatu pero kailangan natin ng tinatawag na structural audit ng mga drainage na yan. Iisa lang ang drainage dyan, sa Station 1, tapos ang pagkakalam po natin, binabakbak po yan. Nagkakaroon ng illegal connections dyan kaya ‘yan ‘yung dahilan kung bakit may lumalabas na tubig dahil may mga nakakabit na illegal na diretso na instead of dumaan ng treatment plant, dumidiretso na ng drainage," he said.

Densing said they need to check how many illegal connections were attached to the drainage system.

"We need to tear down the road system to check on the drainage and the establishments or structures that illegally connect in it," he added.