BORACAY...

provisional or permanent, is revocable at any time, because that is a privilege granted by the state...But first thing to be done is the issuance of an EO,” he said.

Officials and stakeholders also committed on Friday, October 26, to bolster sustainable tourism in the island.

“The reopening of Boracay is not just the culmination of our journey on sustainable tourism. Together, let us ensure that future generations, our children, our children’s children will still say that it’s more fun in the Philippines,” Department of Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said.

She said the tourism department will be sustaining the gains made during the six-month island closure, adding that “other countries were impressed with what we have done.”

Aklan Governor Florencio Miraflores, meanwhile, said “sacrifices had to be made” during the shutdown, and they were all “worth it.”

“The past six months have been a difficult time for Aklan. The impact has been huge. But that’s now behind us,” he said.

The Boracay Inter-agency Task Force has vowed to strengthen the implementation of environmental ordinances that will boost sustainable tourism in the island.

Department of Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Roy Cimatu said the task force is continuously accepting applications for compliance of hotels and resorts that are not yet accredited.

Boracay was closed to tourists on April 26 after Duterte dubbed it as a “cesspool” and ordered its full rehabilitation to address its environment-related problems. (SunStar Philippines)