Boracay resort owners, residents, tourists protest 1-year shutdown

Hotel and resort owners on Boracay Island led an eight-minute lights switch-off on Saturday night to protest the looming 1-year shutdown of the world-famous tourist destination.

According to a report on GMA News' "Balitanhali," the usual night parties were halted as lights in hotels, resorts and several establishments went off.

Residents, tourists, people with businesses on the island gathered at the beachfront in protest.

_{Photos from Manilyn Broncano}

Sunday morning saw hundreds of people linking up arms to show their unity to dramatize their opposition to the planned shutdown, the report added.

An inter-agency recommendation to shut down for one year of the island resort's tourism business stemmed from President Rodrigo Duterte's remark in early February threatening to close Boracay as it has become a "cesspool" because of poor sewerage system.

Later, he ordered Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu "to clean" Boracay in six months.

In mid-March, the Senate led and inquiry into Boracay's woes, together with the Environment Department and other concerned agencies.

After the probe, the Departments of Environment and Natural Resources, Interior and Local Government, and Tourism recommended the total closure of island resort for one year to give way for its full rehabilitation. —with a report from Peewee Bacuño/LBG, GMA News