By Genalyn Kabiling
The rehabilitation of pollution-stricken Boracay should serve as a wake-up call not to sacrifice the environment for the sake of economic development, Malacañang said Sunday.
Presidential spokesperson Atty. Harry Roque (YANCY LIM/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque highlighted the government's resolve to clean and rehabilitate the popular tourist hotspot Boracay during the observance of Earth Day on April 22, Sunday.
"We join the rest of the world in observing Earth Day. This year’s observance of Earth Day in the Philippines has stricken a resonant chord with the government’s resolve to clean and restore Boracay Island to its previous stature as one of the most beautiful and pristine beaches of the world," Roque said.
"This is a good wake-up call to everyone that we must not sacrifice the future ecological sustainability on the altar of economic growth and development," he added.
President Duterte recently approved the six-month closure of Boracay to tourists starting April 26 amid concerns the island has become a "cesspool" due to pollution.
The island shutdown paves the way for the massive rehabilitation works, that include improvement of waste management, expansion of sewage systems, dismantling of illegal structures, to turn Boracay into a clean and green community.
Authorities earlier said they might shorten the closure period of Boracay to four months from six, if rehabilitation efforts would be hastened.
The President has also warned the filing of charges against certain officials of Boracay for serious neglect of duty. He has also threatened to arrest those who refuse to cooperate with the government's efforts to rehabilitate the island.
Presidential spokesperson Atty. Harry Roque (YANCY LIM/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque highlighted the government's resolve to clean and rehabilitate the popular tourist hotspot Boracay during the observance of Earth Day on April 22, Sunday.
"We join the rest of the world in observing Earth Day. This year’s observance of Earth Day in the Philippines has stricken a resonant chord with the government’s resolve to clean and restore Boracay Island to its previous stature as one of the most beautiful and pristine beaches of the world," Roque said.
"This is a good wake-up call to everyone that we must not sacrifice the future ecological sustainability on the altar of economic growth and development," he added.
President Duterte recently approved the six-month closure of Boracay to tourists starting April 26 amid concerns the island has become a "cesspool" due to pollution.
The island shutdown paves the way for the massive rehabilitation works, that include improvement of waste management, expansion of sewage systems, dismantling of illegal structures, to turn Boracay into a clean and green community.
Authorities earlier said they might shorten the closure period of Boracay to four months from six, if rehabilitation efforts would be hastened.
The President has also warned the filing of charges against certain officials of Boracay for serious neglect of duty. He has also threatened to arrest those who refuse to cooperate with the government's efforts to rehabilitate the island.