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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Duterte won't be visiting Boracay anytime soon

Duterte won't be visiting Boracay anytime soon

Published Oct 2, 2020 10:47 am

Malacañang said President Duterte won't be visiting the white-sand beach of Boracay any time soon due to his busy schedule.

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte
(ROBINSON NIÑAL / PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque made the statement following the reopening of Boracay this week to revitalize the country's tourism sector amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

In an interview in CNN Philippines, Roque said that it would be quite impossible for the President to visit Boracay anytime soon since the Chief Executive has a lot on his plate.

However, he was certain that Duterte would want to go to the island beach himself.

"Well, it's abnormal times but I'm sure he would like to visit Boracay as well. But right now, he's actually very busy in Malago (Clubhouse in Malacañang) nowadays," he told "The Source" Friday.

"So, I don't think a visit to Boracay in the near future could happen," he added.

According to Roque, people should not completely discount the possibility of Duterte visiting Boracay since the President knows how important it is to promote local tourism amid the pandemic.

"Let's not discount it because it's important to encourage people to assist our tourism industry," he said.

Roque expressed optimism that people from all over the country, particularly those from Metro Manila, are also excited to go to Boracay.

"After six months of lockdown, I think people from Metro Manila, provided they have negative their PCR tests, would welcome also the opportunity to revisit this paradise on Earth Boracay," he said.

Roque had earlier said the reopening of the Boracay Island doesn't mean that the country was already out of the woods, explaining that the tourism sector also has to revitalize itself even though the threat of the COVID-19 still exists.

"It means kinakailangang balansehin talaga natin ang katotohanan na kinakailangan magtrabaho na yung mga nasa sektor ng turismo (It means we need to balance the reality that workers of the tourism sector must now resume work)," he said.

"Na pupwede namang mangyari kung pangangalagaan natin ang ating mga kalusugan (It means that it is possible for us to work if we just take care of our health)," he added.

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