Karl Valdez
Boracay Island, Philippines — Social media users aired their disappointments regarding the recent Boracay flooding in the Island after six months of closing for rehabilitation.
A Facebook user named Trish Tatoy posted photos of the world-famous paradise submerged in floodwaters saying the rehabilitation done in the island was just a band-aid solution.
“Boracay flooding? DPWH & DENRs world-class/Villar class band-aid solution. Long-term solutions takes a lot of planning, time & resources. Definitely not in 6 months. Probably a few years if done properly. Nag-pauto naman kayo. d30 pa more!” the netizen wrote on her Facebook.
Last May, fan page Boracay Rehabilitation Continues also posted photos of the flooded Boracay after experiencing the first big rain of the season after the rehabilitation.
“First big rain of the season, only for 4 hours, too much flooding,” the page wrote on Facebook.
In another post, the page also said that the sandcastle building on the island has returned.
“Sandcastle building has returned. I hope the commercial sandcastle permits for the “No Fun” Zone (formerly White Beach) will be used wisely, it certainly is not being used to build the new Lifeguard stations,” the page said.
Meanwhile, the government has approved the multibillion-peso medium-term action plan to sustain the rehabilitation efforts of Boracay in a bid to promote a sustainable tourism destination.
According to Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo, under the Boracay Medium-Term Action Plan, the government intends to regulate visitors and hotel accommodations, as well as improve the sewerage system, roads and other infrastructure in the island.
“We likewise announce the approval of the Boracay Medium-Term Action Plan which will sustain the efforts of the government after its closure,” Panelo said.
“According to National Economic and Development Authority Director-General and Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia and Usec. Adoracion Navarro, there are four themes of the action plan: 1) Enforcement of laws where there will be intervention on the regulation of visitors and hotel accommodations; 2) Prevention where there will be interventions on the sewerage infrastructure, solid and liquid waste management,” he said.
In April 2018, Duterte ordered to shut down Boracay to tourists for six months to pave the way for massive rehabilitation, including upgrading its sewage system. It was reopened to tourist last October 2018.
Want more stories like this? Follow us on Facebook, and Twitter.
Also read: People Thought Cameron Diaz Visited the Philippines, But It Was Just a Lookalike
