Palace on Earth Day: We must not sacrifice environment for economic growth

MANILA, Philippines— Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque on Sunday related the annual observance of Earth Day to the impending closure of world-famous Boracay island.

The Palace official said this year’s Earth Day is relevant given the government’s efforts to restore the island, which President Rodrigo Duterte said has become a “cesspool.”

"Today, we join the rest of the world in observing Earth Day. This year's observance of Earth Day in the Philippines has stricken a resonant chord with the government's resolve to clean and restore Boracay Island to its previous stature as one of the most beautiful and pristine beaches of the world," presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in a statement.

"This is a good wake-up call to everyone that we must not sacrifice the future ecological sustainability on the altar of economic growth and development," he added.

The government is set to temporarily close Boracay for six months, starting April 26 to pave way for its rehabilitation.

A government inter-agency taskforce composed of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Tourism, and Department of Interior and Local Government recommended the total closure as it cited several environmental woes in the island including sewerage and waste problems.

The Philippines is celebrating Earth Day this Sunday. The observance of the special day is to “raise the level of awareness on the gravity of environmental degradation and destruction in the country that threatens the very quality of life of many Filipinos.”

The DENR said the country first celebrated the Earth Day in 1990, by virtue of Presidential Proclamation No. 553 of President Corazon Aquino.

April 22 is declared as “Philippine Earth Day” by the Proclamation 1481 of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.