Painful Boracay rehabilitation

Barring any change of mind by President Duterte, the crown jewel of the country’s tourism industry, Boracay Island, will undergo extensive rehabilitation sometime this year.

A task force composed of representatives of the departments of Tourism, Environment and National Resources, and Interior and Local Government earlier recommended a one-year shutdown of Boracay to allow a thorough cleanup.

Although some senators have acknowledged Boracay’s poor environmental condition, they expressed opposition to a total closure and proposed instead rehabilitation in phases to minimize the adverse effects of the business stoppage on the thousands of people who depend on the island’s tourist attraction for their livelihood.

In the wake of the closure threat, the local government officials who have executive jurisdiction over Boracay suddenly found the initiative to check the compliance by business establishments with construction, sanitary and environmental regulations.

Although breaches of these rules have been staring in the face of the local executives for ages, it was only after the President ranted on Boracay cesspool-like condition that they realized that enforcement is part of their mandate.

It took Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu to implement the closure of a hotel that, for years, operated without the proper business permit and built prohibited structures on natural rock formations.

In classic “too late the hero” fashion, the businesses concerned mobilized recently to undertake their own house cleaning in an effort to deter the closure of Boracay from tourist traffic.

No doubt, the temporary closure of Boracay, regardless of its duration, will result in substantial losses to the businesses operating in the area and their employees. But it is a painful pill they have to swallow for their own good.

In a manner of speaking, the cessation of tourism-related activities in Boracay to give way to a much-needed rehabilitation is akin to a declaration of “bankruptcy” for the benefit of the affected businesses to enable them to put their houses in order and ensure their profitable operation for several more years.

This time, however, no court order has to be applied for or issued for that purpose. The rehabilitation order will come directly from the President.

In all likelihood, some of the businesses may be entertaining the idea of going to court to restrain Boracay’s closure. Considering the signals coming from Malacañang, it is doubtful if any of the judges in the area would be “brave” enough to issue any order that would stymie the government’s rehabilitation plan.

With the restoration efforts just a matter of time, the question is posed: What measures will the government adopt and implement to assist the employees of the 130 or so hotels, resorts and inns who are expected to temporarily lose their jobs?

The executives of these establishments may have no problem transferring to their affiliate companies in other places in the Philippines or elsewhere in the world while the rehabilitation is underway. But what about the lower level staff who have limited skills or expertise and cannot be absorbed by the domestic employment market?

Add to this number the people who operate restaurants, food stalls, service shops, souvenir stores and other business establishments that cater to the needs of the tourists.

Unlike high-end hotels and resorts, these businesses are entrepreneurial in nature or the mom-and-pop variety that are operated by members of a family or those who belong to the C, D and E levels of our society who work on a “no work, no pay” basis. Their stomachs cannot be put on hold while Boracay is going through massive refurbishing.

Although good intentions are behind Boracay’s rehabilitation, the human factor, or the welfare of the people who are in danger of becoming collateral damage in the process, cannot be ignored. Their interests deserve full and meaningful care and consideration from the government.