According to a report from the Philippine Daily Inquirer newspaper, Duterte approve recommendations from the Department of Tourism and the Department of Interior and Local Government to close the 2,550-acre island to all tourists for six months from April 26 so that its sewerage infrastructure can be upgraded.
“My orders were to clean it up so when it’s being clean, it’s closed,” Duterte reportedly told the Philippine Daily Enquirer. After these essential works have been carried out, the controversial Duterte reportedly told the newspaper that the island located some 196 miles south of Manila is to be designated as a “land reform area” with local farmers being gifted their own plots.
“It’s going to be a land reform area for the Filipinos. Consider Boracay a land reform area. I will give it to the farmers; to the Filipino first,” he said.
Galaxy Entertainment Group Limited had earlier received a provisional license for its Boracay project from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation regulator and had hoped to begin welcoming guests as early as 2021. But, Duterte reportedly declared that he had known nothing about this plan and did not believe that such a venue would benefit locals.
Source: GMB
