PRESS RELEASE
10 July 2018
Calling the continued closure of Boracay Island as unjust, unscientific, and untransparent, activists led by the Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment (Kalikasan PNE) picketed outside the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) demanding the immediate re-opening of the famous tourism site. This is to immediately restore the livelihood of over 24,000 residents and workers and allow independent investigators to assess the effects of the closure and rehab plan, the group said.
“Is there currently a policy to prohibit independent scientific inquiry into the current status of rehabilitation in Boracay? What is the Duterte government hiding? Why are they so intent to keep the island on full Marawi-style lockdown even if it doesn’t have a rehab plan that can be ascertained if indeed effective and appropriate to the needs of the ecosystems and communities? This unjust closure has caused hunger and joblessness for over 24,000 workers and their families,” said Leon Dulce, National Coordinator of Kalikasan.
It can be recalled that a humanitarian mission and rapid scientific assessment to Boracay was attempted more than a week ago. The inter-agency security forces denied the entry of the mission. A small but steady stream of foreign tourists were observed entering the island, however, the latest being the 21 Europeans from the Genfest International who were allowed to “take a dip” as part of a “humanitarian activity,” said DENR Undersecretary Benny Antiporda.
The group also reiterated that what should have been done instead of a total closure was to pursue the biggest violators and impose a moratorium on new construction projects. Instead, the provisional licenses granted to two Chinese mega-casinos to build in Boracay has not been rescinded. Residents have reported that another large resort in Boracay is set to open at the end of the closure order.
“The closure of Boracay seemed like the proverbial ‘fault-of-some is the fault-of-all,’ on top of the sheer military terror the Duterte government has imposed upon the residents. The sanctions on long-time and big-time environmental violators need not be borne by all the workers and residents of Boracay. In the first place, the lack of jobs and industry in the mainland is the reason why the workers flock to the island and contribute to its congestion,” added Dulce.
The environmental group added that a longer-term, holistic, and pro-people rehabilitation for Boracay should take into account the bigger picture and involve the input of residents, tourism workers, local government units, environmental experts, civil society, and people’s organizations.
“The problem in Boracay has been there 30 years in the making due to unbridled commercialization and chronic government neglect. A one-time, big-time, six-month closure imposed through Duterte’s gunpowder mentality approach will not do anything to instantly fix this mess. The lockdown should be repudiated and the hundreds of police and military should be replaced with scientists, social workers, and other experts. The residents and workers should be allowed to return to their livelihood as well as mobilized to genuinely rehabilitate and sustainably manage the island’s natural wonders,” Dulce ended.#
