A 300-meter span at Willy鈥檚 Rock in Boracay is the only area allowed for swimming for residents starting April 26. (Photo by Nestor P. Burgos Jr./INQUIRER VISAYAS)
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council adopted a resolution聽on Monday聽recommending to President Rodrigo Duterte the declaration of state of calamity in Boracay Island.
鈥淭he prevailing conditions in Boracay Island and the urgent need for its temporary closure as a tourist destination for purposes of rehabilitation, the National Council has agreed to recommend the declaration of a state of calamity in Boracay Island,鈥� Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said in the meeting.
The disaster agency, headed by Lorenzana, convened聽on Monday聽to discuss the proposed declaration of state of calamity in the barangays of Balabag, Manoc-Manoc and Yapak (Boracay Island) in Malay, Aklan, the NDRRMC said in a statement.
The NDRRMC also discussed the recommendation of the temporary closure of the island for six months for 鈥渆xpeditious rehabilitation.鈥�
Based on the findings of Department of Interior and Local Government and Department of Environment and Natural Resources, pollution was caused by 鈥渋mproper waste management and encroachment of protected areas by illegal structures have adversely affected the overall ecological balance of the island.鈥�
The Department of Science and Technology also said that beach erosion was prevalent in the island, particularly along Western Beach, where there was as much 40 meters of erosion that has taken place from 1993 to 2003. This was said to have been caused by 鈥渟torms, extraction of sand along the beach to raise properties and structures along the foreshore.鈥�
President Duterte is expected in the coming days to declare the state of calamity and issue an executive order to shut down Boracay Island starting聽April 26.
Last February, the President said Boracay鈥檚 water has turned into a 鈥渃esspool.鈥� /je