Boracay closure

The National Bureau of Investigation has recommended the filing of graft, malversation, and technical malversation charges against 21 former officials of the municipal government of Malay, Aklan.

21 former municipal government officials in Malay, Aklan were recommended by the NBI to be charged with graft, malversation, and technical malversation for the alleged misuse of environmental and admission fees intended to benefit Boracay island. | @mjaysoncayabyab pic.twitter.com/mmtmQRSJvI

— The Philippine Star (@PhilippineStar) November 12, 2018

The recommendation stems from the alleged misuse of environmental and admission fees that were supposed to be used for the benefit of Boracay island, which is part of Malay town.

In October, the Office of the Ombudsman suspended Malay Mayor Ciceron Cawaling over the supposed neglect of duty that led environmental problems on the island.

Cawaling, who is also among the officials against whom the NBI has recommended fresh charges, was charged alongside 16 others before the Office of the Ombudsman in June.

Business owners with the Compliant Association of Boracay are asking the Department of the Environment and Natural Resources to deputize some of their establishments' staff as "Boracay Marshals" who will guard against littering on the island.

The marshals can remind visitors to refrain from littering and get their personal information for endorsement to proper authorities if the tourists refuse, the association says in a letter.

LOOK | Compliant Association of Boracay seeks permission to police public areas to help catch litterers. (via News5 / @ShylaFrancisco) pic.twitter.com/QSV7Yarjw7

— ONE News PH (@onenewsph) October 16, 2018

Boracay's "soft opening" after six months for rehabilitation and repair has been marred by reports of plastic trash along the beach. The island was reopened to tourists this week.

Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat reminds prospective visitors to Boracay "to avoid transactions with establishments that have not yet secured the necessary clearances, permits and/or accreditation from the DOT, DENR and DILG, and thus have no assurance to re-open."

She issued the reminder on her social media account as Boracay holds a "dry run" for the reopening of the top tourism destination to the public after six months of repair and rehabilitation.

The following are the hotels that will be allowed to open for the soft opening of Boracay this October 26. ONLY THE HOTELS LISTED WILL BE ALLOWED TO RE OPEN. This list is as of Oct 12, 2018. pic.twitter.com/3wkZerUP34

— Berna Romulo Puyat (@BernaPuyat) October 12, 2018

The Department of Social Welfare and Development's regional office in the Eastern Visayas has released P119.8 million in livelihood assistance 
to residents and workers on Boracay island.

DSWD-6 says 1,323 beneficiaries in the first batch of the department's Sustainable Livelihood Program received P15,000 each.

Another 1,000 beneficiaries will receive assistance in early June.

Boracay has been closed to tourists since April 26 for environmental rehabilitation.

Two private residents of Boracay file a graft complaint before the ombudsman against ex-Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo, husband Roberto Teo and other officials of TIEZA over an alleged anomalous P300-million water supply contract with Manila Water Company Inc.

Complainants Rod Padilla and Roberto Gelito say respondents conspired in approving a joint venture agreement with Manila Water which allowed the latter to have exclusive rights over water supply and sewerage system operations in Boracay.

The deal between TIEZA and Manila Water pertains to the operations of the sole sewerage system in Boracay previously managed by Boracay Waterworks & Sewerage System (BWSS), a wholly-owned subsidiary of TIEZA. 

Two private residents of Boracay file graft complaint before @OmbudsmanPh vs ex-DOT Sec. Wanda Teo, husband Roberto Teo & other officials of TIEZA over an alleged anomalous P300-M water supply contract w/ Manila Water Company Inc. (MWCI). @PhilippineStar pic.twitter.com/ZweQhKCqfk

— Elizabeth T. Marcelo (@marcelo_beth) May 18, 2018

The complainants say it violates Article 12 Section 11 of the 1987 Constitution which prohibits exclusivity or monopoly of operations of public utilities. They add that instead of subjecting the sewerage facility to a third party independent valuation “respondents have feloniously allotted the lions share of 80% to MWCI amounting P240 million and measly 20% to TIEZA (formerly PTA) amounting P60 million.”

— with Elizabeth Marcelo

President Rodrigo Duterte signs the proclamation declaring a state of calamity in Boracay, according to Special Assistant to the President Christopher "Bong" Go.

The proclamation covers the barangays of Manoc-Manoc, Balabag and Yapak in Boracay, Malay, Aklan.

The world-famous island will be temporarily closed to tourists for six months.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque says it's no big deal that a declaration of a state of calamity over Boracay has not yet been made by the government days before the shutdown of the island.

"Well don't worry. It can be issued today, tomorrow. It's no big deal because I'm sure it's drafted already," Roque says in an interview with CNN Philippines' "The Source."

"People have been told that it will be closed so it's no big deal. They know it will happen and it's just a formality that that will be issued."

He says what is important is that the government gave an advance notice that the closure will happen.

Roque adds that President Rodrigo Duterte is expected to sign the executive order declaring the state of calamity over the island before he leaves for Singapore, where the ASEAN Summit will be held from April 27 to 28.

The EO will serve as the legal basis for the shutdown and can fast-track rehabilitation of the island.

Boracay island will be closed for six months from April 26, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque says.

Duterte previously threatened to shut down the island, saying it had become a cesspool.

ICYMI: Presidential spokesman Harry Roque: Boracay closed for 6 months effective 26 April | @alexisbromero

— Philstar.com (@PhilstarNews) April 4, 2018

Senate holds inquiry on environmental issues surrounding Boracay.

President Rodrigo Duterte threatened to close Boracay, which he describes as a "cesspool."

He gave Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu six months to address the environmental problems of the popular tourist destination. 

Earlier, Cimatu and Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo visited Boracay following reports that the balance between environmental conservation and tourism development on the island is deteriorating.

Officials blamed the deterioration of the island’s condition on the lack of proper sewerage system and the number of business establishments that dispose of their waste to the sea.