Master plan needed for entry of tourists in Boracay —Gordon

Senator Richard Gordon on Sunday emphasized the need to have a master plan for the entry of tourists on Boracay Island to address its environmental issues.

Gordon made the remark after President Rodrigo Duterte approved the recommendation of three government agencies to close the popular tourist destination for six months starting April 26 for rehabilitation.

"Tutol ako na isara basta-basta ang Boracay unless there is a master plan and a plan of implementation and a plan of enforcement," Gordon, a former tourism secretary, said in a Super Radyo dzBB interview.

"Dapat may master plan yan, dapat sasabihin doon sa master plan, kapag isinara natin yan at binuksan natin yan, ang pwede lang pumasok sa isang araw diyan ay ganito lang karami. Kasi kahit gaano kalaki ang sewage mo, kung in-overload mo, ay magbabara," he added.

Gordon said there should be a means to regulate the entry of people on the island.

"Any time of the day, meron kang booking ng mga hotel at mga pupunta roon, dapat nire-record yun." 

"Ang gagawin natin, may plano. Kondisyon ko, sige isara natin ng six months, kaya niyo ba na yung master plan, kapag sinara niyo, gagawin niyo agad yan?" he said.

According to him, one reason for the closure of Boracay is to accommodate the conditions set by the company that would put up a casino on the island.

"Kondisyones siguro yun na ayusin nila yung airport, huwag masyadong maraming tao dito na hindi kailangan," Gordon said.

But he insisted there should be not much residents on the island.

"Dapat wala talaga, kung gusto natin maging world-class talaga yan. E ngayon kapag nagkarpintero yan, kapag nagkaroon ng kontrata diyan, hindi na aalis yun. Kasalanan ng gobyerno yan." 

Gordon likewise suggested that the closing of the island be done part by part.

"Close a certain area na dapat ayusin in accordance with the master plan. And then, i-establish yung talagang carrying capacity ng island," he said. —LBG, GMA News