BORACAY — Construction workers here raced against the clock on Thursday to finish a marker that is set to be unveiled once the island reopens to holidaymakers on Friday (Oct. 26).
In a statement, Department of Environment and Natural Resources Undersecretary Sherwin Rigor said the “Boracay icon,” a phrase coined by the Boracay Inter-agency Task Force (BITF) to refer to an image that the island is well known for, will be a “prominent marker” in Cagban port set for inauguration.
Rigor said the icon would be a “fitting symbol showcasing the ‘new’ Boracay that has been made possible through the collaborative efforts of the government and the island’s stakeholders.”
Among those that will take centerstage during Boracay’s reopening, Rigor said, include the inauguration of the rehabilitated main road with a ribbon-cutting ceremony to be led by Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar.
The 4.1-kilometer road stretches from the Cagban port to the Elizalde property in Station 1.
The country will reopen Boracay after a six-month clean up aimed at bringing back its glory days.
On Thursday, Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu reiterated that his agency will be strictly enforcing the compliance of tourists with the set of environmental rules.
“Ang akin lang sana, ‘yung change of behavior at change in culture for those coming here. Medyo akala kasi nila, they can do anything they want here. Dapat hindi na ‘yun ganun (On my part, I want to see a change in behavior and a change in culture for those coming here. Because what they think is they can do anything here. That should not be tolerated),” he said in a press conference.
Cimatu, who takes the helm of the Boracay task force, said the guidelines seeks to bolster sustainable tourism in the island. (Rom Dulfo/PNA)
