Boracay closure

[JDDavao II]

18 hours ago, Jollygoodfellow said:

Silly idea for complete closure. The loss of income for so many. Lots of business will probably close up without the funds to re open. Why they couldn't solve problems progressively I dont know.

 

2

We usually visit in January and this past January, it was horrible. They were attempting to do some sort of drainage installation/repairs along the major road through and beyond Station 1. They were working in intervals. Of course, the road is barely wide enough for two vehicles and it is HEAVILY traveled. Stop, start, stop, start, stop, start, all the way to the famous Puka Beach. I think that's the major reason they can't do anything progressively.

[bastonjock]

I would think that part of the deal for the new casino included a clean up of boracay ,it's a win situation for the government ,they get more big business moving in ,more tax monies , perhaps they are going to regenerate the entire area into an upmarket tourist destination ,in perhaps the same way that Benidorm in Spain was transformed from a small fishing village into what it is today 

[Jollygoodfellow]

On 4/6/2018 at 3:56 PM, bastonjock said:

I would think that part of the deal for the new casino included a clean up of boracay ,it's a win situation for the government ,they get more big business moving in ,more tax monies , perhaps they are going to regenerate the entire area into an upmarket tourist destination ,in perhaps the same way that Benidorm in Spain was transformed from a small fishing village into what it is today 

Well someone is now thinking about giving the land to farmers after the rehabilitation. But how can you approve a huge resort and then turn the rest into farmland. A screw missing here somewhere. 

Duterte mulls giving Boracay land to farmers

President Rodrigo Duterte wants to give Boracay to farmers after the island's rehabilitation.

"It's going to be a land reform area for the Filipinos. Lilinisin ko lang naman tapos ibalik ko sa Pilipino ang lupa nila," he said on Monday in his departure speech before flying to China for the Boao Forum for Asia.

[Translation: It's going to be a land reform area for the Filipinos. I will clean it up then I'll give back the land to Filipinos.]

He added, "The law says it is forestland. Why will I deviate from that? I-land reform ko lahat 'yan (I will reform the land) then I'll give it to the farmers."

The island will be closed from tourists for six months starting April 26 to make way for its rehabilitation.

Duterte said he will sign the proclamation to declare Boracay under a state of calamity for the disbursement of a P2 billion fund to assist over 35,000 displaced workers.

But he clarified it is only for the "poor Filipinos."

"I will not spend a single centavo for hotel owners. Sa magagandang bahay, don't expect me to pay for anything," he said.

Environment Undersecretary Jonas Leones on April 5 also said workers from establishments who violated environmental rules are excluded from the help from the calamity fund. He said these workers should be financially assisted by their employers.

"(Calamity fund) will only go to legitimate hoteliers and businesses," he said.

The calamity fund will also be used to help indigenous people from the island.

"Sila ang nawalan. We will help them in this time of rehabilitation," Tourism Assistant Secretary Ricky Alegre said.

http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2018/04/09/Boracay-land-reform-farmers.html

[Dave Hounddriver]

27 minutes ago, Jollygoodfellow said:

The law says it is forestland. Why will I deviate from that

Sure, why not.  I bet if you go back far enough you would find that Manila and Cebu were farmland at one time.  Give it all back to them.  Too many damn tourists here anyway.    

[RBM]

The way our beloved president seems to jump from one thought of reasoning to another astounds me. If he would just get the correct advice make the decision and hold fast, seems to be incapable of this.

Hard to believe the Chinese investor will be heartened by his latest outbursts. Clean up Boracay in 6 months..pigs m........

[scott h]

7 minutes ago, RBM said:

Chinese investor will be heartened by his latest outbursts.

This I going to be very interesting to watch play out. We all know that Filipino businesses are loath to spend on maintenance or infrastructure. And if the President is true to his word and will not spend any money to install the needed pipes and such. I can imagine the meeting in the board rooms now. You own 60% of the resort, so 60% of the costs is yours. I might be a synic but I foresee a few resorts shutting down completely. 

[Old55]

In this case I think the President is brilliant putting forth that proclamation. A number of things could take place.

The players knowing they could loose everything may get together (first time for everything) and find a solution. 

He could honestly believe there’s more value shutting the entire island down as an example. Use it as a threat to other stupid greedy corrupt government agencies who alow this in the future.

Those Rich and powerful Filipino or Chinese developers Are the ones who can make real changes with cash 💰 or bullets. 

The “informal settlement” problem is something that needs addressing. I haven’t a clue how that’s gonna change.

[Dave Hounddriver]

6 hours ago, Old55 said:

The “informal settlement” problem is something that needs addressing. I haven’t a clue how that’s gonna change

I think you already answered that when you said

6 hours ago, Old55 said:

can make real changes with cash 💰 or bullets

 

[JDDavao II]

Just about the last thing anyone who resides on or owns a business on Boracay needs at the moment is more uncertainty from the government. But there ya go.

 

[JDDavao II]

19 hours ago, Jollygoodfellow said:

Duterte said he will sign the proclamation to declare Boracay under a state of calamity for the disbursement of a P2 billion fund to assist over 35,000 displaced workers.

But he clarified it is only for the "poor Filipinos."

"I will not spend a single centavo for hotel owners. Sa magagandang bahay, don't expect me to pay for anything," he said.

Environment Undersecretary Jonas Leones on April 5 also said workers from establishments who violated environmental rules are excluded from the help from the calamity fund. He said these workers should be financially assisted by their employers.

And this is precious. Workers, who are not at fault for the environmental decisions made by their employers, will not receive calamity funds but the funds are for "poor Filipinos". Which they will apparently be making by not covering said workers. Hoo-boy.