THE House committee on tourism, chaired by Leyte fourth district Representative Lucy Torres-Gomez, has expressed its support to the proposal of the government to temporary close Boracay Island.
Torres-Gomez said the panel's statement stemmed from its committee report, which emanated from its hearings on House Resolution 1807, a resolution urging the House committee on tourism to conduct an inquiry into the roadmap and action plans of the tourism department in regulating tourist spots in the country, as well as House Resolution 1277 that directs a House inquiry into the reported dumping of wastewater by some establishments in Boracay Island, Malay and Aklan.
The committee, however, did not recommend a specific period for the closure.
Torres-Gomez said "it's very hard to decide on a period when there isn't a plan of action yet."
"For me, I feel that we should set a goal, see what the problem is, set achievable goals and work backwards. That is the only way we can determine the period of closure," she added.
Torrez-Gomez called for coordination among the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Tourism, and Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority in determining the appropriate period necessary.
She expressed sympathy to those who will be affected by the impending temporary closure.
Torres-Gomez said she understands the economic implications of a temporary closure to both businessmen and residents, but believes it would be prudent for the country to put more weight on long-term viability and sustainability of tourism in Boracay.
In 2016, the island reportedly brought P60 billion in tourism receipts.
A closure, according to the House tourism panel, would result in monthly loses that would amount to P5 billion.
"If we don't go that way, if we don't sacrifice a little for now, we don't have a Boracay to even speak about in the next decade or so," she said.
Torres-Gomez said she has nothing against the local government officials in the island, including Aklan Mayor Ciceron Cawaling, but she said the latter has a lot to answer in terms of how Boracay has turned to become what it is now.
President Rodrigo Duterte recently remarked that Boracay, one of the top tourism sites in the country, has turned into a cesspool.
According to Torres-Gomez, among the issues that were tackled by the House tourism committee is the local government unit's collection of environmental fees.
The Malay government has been collecting P75 in environmental fees from tourists since 2008.
Torres-Gomez said the local government has not yet been able to account what it has done with the collection.
Meanwhile, Samar first district Representative Edgar Mary Sarmiento, author of House Resolution 1807, opposed the government's plan to put up a casino in Boracay island.
Earlier in the day, Macau Casino giant Galaxy Entertainment and its Filipino partner, Leisure and Resorts World Corp., announced that they will start constructing a new resort-casino in the island in 2019.
The developers were able to secure from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation a provisional license allowing the construction of the $500-million resort-casino.
"Marami na tayong casino, wag na sa Boracay (We already have a lot of casinos; don't include Boracay)," Sarmiento said.
Sarmiento said the casino is deemed unfit for Boracay, as the island is being promoted as a family place.
Both Torres-Gomez and Sarmiento appealed to the lawmakers at the House of Representatives to pass House Bill 7229.
The said bill, filed last February 2016 by Torres-Gomez, seeks to establish policies and regulations to ensure sustainability of the Philippine tourism industry. (VoxPop Philippines)
