By Tara Yap
Iloilo City — The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) remains upbeat on the economy of Western Visayas despite the six-month closure to tourists of Boracay in Aklan.
“The strength of the region’s current economy will definitely surpass the problems in Boracay and it is the economies of other provinces that will accommodate the displacement of workers during the temporary closure,” said NEDA Regional Director Ro-Ann Bacal.
Earlier, Department of Tourism (DOT) Regional Director Helen Catalbas questioned Bacal’s statement that Boracay’s shutdown will drag down the Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) to 5.23 percent for this year, from 8.4 percent in 2017.