Press Release
October 26, 2018

With Boracay rehab on track
Nancy: Let's move on, help other tourist destinations

Boracay Island, Aklan - Senator Nancy Binay today said that the government should turn its attention to other tourist destinations in the country needing assistance.

"Since on track na naman yung rehabilitation ng Boracay, let's move on to the other destinations na kailangan din ng atensyon," Binay, the Senate Committee on Tourism chairperson, said.

"Nabanggit na ni (DOT) Secretary Berna (Romulo-Puyat) na mukhang may problema din tayo sa El Nido, sa Panglao, at iba pang tourist destinations," she added.

The DOT had previously written to the local government of El Nido, Palawan regarding the enforcement of environmental ordinances and address environmental issues such as trash disposal.

The legislator said that it would be beneficial to know the carrying capacity of tourist destinations

to guide the planning and implementation of tourism plans.

"Sabi ko nga, since pinag-uusapan namin ang budget, tingin ko, bigyan namin ng funding yung paggawa ng study ng carrying capacity," Binay said.

"Nakakalungkot, marami tayong destinations, hindi natin alam yung carrying capacity but we are already promoting it, developing it without knowing ano ba talaga yung kakayahan nung destination," she added.

Binay also said that low income municipalities should be prioritized and assisted in the crafting of tourism plans.

"Maganda bigyan natin ng assistance yung mga 4th class, 5th class municipality dahil ito yung talagang walang pondo for their tourism masterplan," she said.

Binay, together with Department of Tourism (DOT) officials, conducted an ocular inspection and briefing of Boracay's rehabilitation a day before its opening.

"Nakakataas balahibo pag makita mo yung main beach ngayon na ang luwag nya, ang linis-linis nya," Binay said.

A private stakeholder also gave Binay a report about its efforts to revive its adopted wetland when she visited two of the island's wetlands. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) had allowed corporations to undertake environmental works in six of Boracay's nine wetlands.

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