Government urged to assess all beach resorts

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Nancy Binay called on the appropriate government agencies yesterday to conduct an assessment of all beach resorts frequented by tourists before promoting these as alternatives to Boracay Island.

Binay, chair of the Senate committee on tourism, questioned the move of the Department of Tourism (DOT) encouraging those who want to visit Boracay to go to other resorts.

She said that the DOT should first study the actual situation in the other resorts before recommending them as tourist destinations because these areas could end up experiencing the same problem as Boracay.

Binay said that the DOT, Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Department of the Interior and Local Government should inspect the resorts and address the problems besetting them before bringing in tourists. 

According to Binay, she is not in favor of the total closure of Boracay, which she said would gravely affect the jobs of over 17,000 workers in the area.

Just like what Senate committee on environment chair Sen. Cynthia Villar suggested, Binay said the government should just crack down on all the violators in Boracay and spare those that comply with environmental laws and regulations.

She said the better option would be to regulate the entry of tourists to Boracay as well as the other popular destinations.

The DILG recommended a 60-day closure of Boracay while the problems in the area are being addressed. It also said a state of calamity in the area must be declared.