MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday scolded local government officials in Boracay for “neglecting” the top beach destination and allowing it to turn into a “cesspool.”
“‘Yang mga local governments, ‘yung mga tao diyan, I’m addressing myself now sa Boracay, pinahayaan ninyo ‘yung mga bagay-bagay, nabuilding of structures overlapping the coastline (The people running local governments, I’m addressing myself now, in Boracay, you allowed things to happen, building structures overlapping the coastline),” Duterte said during his speech at the launching of the Malasakit Programs at the Vicente Soto Memorial Medical Center, Cebu City.
Duterte said that they allowed buildings to be constructed in Boracay without the proper sewerage, therefore creating what he described as a “disaster.”
He also warned to charge them for “serious neglect of duty.”
“I will charge you for serious neglect of duty making Boracay a fishpond or a sewer pool. Kayo ‘yan diyan (You guys allowed it to happen there),” he added.
The President, meanwhile, reiterated his threat to permanently close Boracay if it is not cleaned up in six months. He left the cleanup task to Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu.
“It is Cimatu alone who will decide. If he thinks that he has to destroy there, he has to destroy you. He has my complete trust and confidence,” Duterte said.
“They clean it up or I will close it permanently,” he added.
Duterte earlier warned that if the environmental problems are not addressed, there will be a time that no foreigners will want to visit the island. (Azer Parrocha/PNA)
