BORACAY ISLAND, Aklan — Workers who will be displaced with the impending closure of the tourist island will get assistance from the government, said OIC Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año here on Friday.
Año, who spoke with the media after a meeting with the Local Government Unit of Malay, said President Rodrigo R. Duterte is expected to put the island under a state of calamity to allow the use of PHP2 billion funds as financial assistance for those who will lose their jobs.
More than 36,000 workers are expected to lose their jobs once the island is shut down starting April 26, according to the LGU Malay.
“A validation process to identify who will be qualified to receive the financial assistance will be conducted in coordination with the LGU Malay,” Año said.
Año added that priority sector will be the informal workers including boatmen, massage therapist, and tricycle drivers, among others who will be greatly affected by the closure.
Jobs will also be available to the affected workers, he said.
During the rehabilitation of the island, at least 10,000 workers will also be needed, he said.
“They will be our workforce to rehabilitate Boracay,” the government official said.
He said the Department of Labor and Employment also committed to provide jobs for at least 5,000 workers.
Rowen Aguirre, executive assistant of LGU Malay, said they will also gather the businesses on the island for their contingency plans for their workers.
Año came to the resort island after the President gave his approval to the recommendations to shut down the island for six months. (PNA)
