Beach ordered closed 26 April 2018 - Boracay, Philippines

This week saw President Duterte order the shut down of Boracay beach, effective 26 April 2018. While many are surprised, those who have paid attention to Duterte’s commentary on Boracay in February saw the writing on the wall. Duterte minced no words on what he thought of the condition of the beach at one of the world’s best island destinations.

The Philippine Information Agency earlier reported that based on data from the Aklan Province Tourist Office, there were 1,669,751 tourists arrivals in Boracay from January to October 2017, 14 percent higher than in the previous year.

The closing of Boracay beach will have a significant impact on local businesses, some (not all) of which are now having to address sanitary issues which they had previously largely ignored.

The Environmental Ministry noted that restaurants, business and residents are pushing sewage directly into the sea, and cited 195 businesses and 4,000 residences for pollution, and 300 more were being reviewed for sanitary offenses.

What Boracay Closure Means to You?

Environmental undersecretary Jonas Leones, according to The Guardian, said, “the closure would involve airlines and ferries, suspending Boracay services, making the beaches off-limits and stationing police there, ‘if necessary.'” Local business associations are petitioning the government to only close those establishments not in compliance.

There are 500 hotels in Boracay. If you have a reservation during the peak months of April-September, you should contact your tour operator, travel agency or hotel directly to adjust your reservations. Tow of Boracay’s luxury hotels offered assurance sto both guests and staff - the Shangri-la Boracay Resort and Spa and the Discovery Shores Boracay. Both noted that they would work through an interim plan according to ABS/CBN.

There are no cruise ships scheduled to visit Boracay during the six-month closure of the beach.

Airlines service to Boracay with 40 daily flights, some of which will be adjusted, contact your air carrier for specifics. The Center for Aviation expects AirAsia to be the most affected by the closure as it provides approximately one-third of passenger capacity to the island.

Alternatives?

While Boracy is located in the Western Visayas, not too far away, and closer to Borneo, exists an attractive alternative, Palawan Island. The island is idyllic and is currently serviced by both domestic and international flights. The Center for Aviation has urged air carriers to consider investing in additional flights to Palawan during the closure period.

Travel to Mindanao should be avoided, per the US Department of State travel advisory, about which we reported in our 07 April Security Brief, “exercise increased caution due to crime, terrorism, and civil unrest.

Is the pollution at Boracay a reality?

This video from GMA news (Philippines) from 15 February 2018 shows raw sewage flowing directing onto the beach at Boracay.

The Boracay back story

On February 5, during a Cabinet meeting, Duterte gave his Environment Secretary, Roy Cimatu six months to address the environmental issues the Manila Times tells us. At the same meeting, Duterte agreed “in principal” to the formation of a task force, and for the task force to take six months and address the problems.

Duterte spoke publicly about the beach’s condition on February 10, where he described the beach as a cesspool. “During the days I was there, garbage was 20 meters away from the beach, ” Duterte said. he continued, “But you go into the water, it’s smelly. Smell of what? Shit. Because everything that goes out of Boracay … it’s destroying the environment of the Republic of the Philippines and creating a disaster.”

He concluded, “There will be a time that no more foreigner will go there because he will have — when he goes back on the plane to where he belongs, he will be full of shit going back and forth to the restroom.”

In October 2017, Cimatu, during his confirmation hearing was asked how he would address the deterioration of Boracay. According to Rappler, Cimatu said, “I always say this: if you want to see what a local government should not be in terms of environmental protection, you should go and see Boracay. I’m not an environmentalist, but you need not be an environmentalist to see the abuses committed on Boracay.”

About Boracay Beach

Boracay beach is located at the northern tip of Panay Island, within the province of Aklan. Population of Aklan is just under 350,000, of which 14.9 percent live well below the poverty line, according to the Philippines Information Agency. In November 2017, the Aklan Province Tourist Office noted that the previously mentioned 1.7 million tourists spent just under $895 million in Aklan.