Boracay declared 'cesspool'

[reader]

From CBC news

 

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has approved the closure of the tourist destination of Boracay for up to six months after saying the waters off its famed white-sand beaches had become a "cesspool" due to overcrowding and development.

 

Duterte approved the total shutdown of Boracay as a tourist destination starting April 26 in a cabinet meeting Wednesday night after extensive discussions of its impact, including ways to help about 17,000 workers who may be displaced, tourism undersecretary Frederick Alegre said Thursday.

 

"This is not about profit, it's about the political will to deal with years of neglect of the environment," Alegre said. "We need to act swiftly to save the island and avert its further deterioration."

 

Last February, Duterte said Boracay's water has turned into a "cesspool" with human waste being discharged into the sea.

 

Continues with video

http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/philippine-boracay-island-temporary-close-1.4605870

[TMax]

About time too, I remember reading about the problems down there a good 10 years back and even then the the problem with raw sewage going out into the waters was a big problem and the hotels and resorts promised top stop it and clean it all up then.

[GWMinUS]

Progress is being made to cleaning up Boracay.

The target is to Reopen the Island to Tourists by October 26th.

We will see??

But President Duterte has stated, NO MORE PARTIES!!

There is talk limiting the number of Tourists that can even go to Boracay.

I hope things work out!! It is beautiful...

[TMax]

Seriously doubt they will make the Oct 26th time, last I read just last week only 180 of the 2200 premises actually come up to grade, even my friend who lives there (over here on holidays at present) says it will take at least a year to complete but even that will be pushing it.

[GWMinUS]

Try visiting Bantayan Island!! Located off the North tip of Cebu Island.

It is relatively undiscovered.

Santa Fe Town has beautiful white sand beaches. And some good places to eat.

No good bars, so take along some friends to Party!!

Do not bother with Bantayan Town itself. Only thing there is the one ATM on the Island.

Take a Ceres Bus from Cebu City up to Hagnaya Port and then across on the Ferry. About 10 hours travel time.

CHEERS

[Guest]

If one of the problems is sewreage, is the issue a lack of a proper sewerage treatment facility OR the hotels simply not being connected to it ?

 

If it is the lack of a decent sewerage treatment facility, well of course that will take a good while to plan & build.  

 

Closing the whole place down will hurt local businesses, hurt the local economy and seems like an absolutely loony way to fix the problem.   Unless, of course, there is a corrupt useless local government that needs a kick up the butt.    

 

Even then, closing the place down is actually kicking local businesses & workers up the butt.

[Terry4]

Is Cebu the best city to meet boys on the apps?

[GWMinUS]

With regard to Boracay, everyone needed a Kick in the Butt!!

The biggest problem was sewage. The raw sewage was being connected to the storm water or simply being dumped in the ocean. Many places have no treatment. If there are pipes they do not extend far enough off the beach.

So not only is there raw sewage washing up on the beach, but the algae was blooming and washing green slim up onto the beach as well.

There has also been construction too far out on the beach. Many vendors sheds and even houses. Many of those places have been removed. Including demolition of concrete structures.

There were plans to build a Big Casino on the Island. President Duterte has stopped that for now!!!

And finally the main road, which is behind the Hotels and Shop needs to be replaced.

It is a major job!!

I am impressed that President Duterte had the determination to say ENOUGH.

Yes, I think it was take years to get things done. But this has been a major step. 

[TMax]

Well they reopened Boracay, on a limited basis though, the hotels / resorts that came up to scratch were allowed a certain number of rooms each and all visitors now have to register on their arrival. Alas, what did they find after day one's reopening? Rubbish on the beaches, it seems that Boracay attracts a fair number of pigs as tourists, they even placed extra rubbish bins on the beaches but the pigs prefer to just drop their crap anywhere. Don't be surprised if it continues that Duterte will close it down again, unlikely but still an option if people don't improve their ways. I would say the locals would be mighty pissed off with the litter and those dropping it.