Proposed closure of 4 El Nido barangays to have little impact on tourism —DENR exec

The proposed closure of some parts of El Nido, Palawan will have little effect on the municipality's tourism, a top official of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) assured the public on Saturday.

"Well, of course, maapektuhan yan if in case na masara nga... but hindi naman ganun kalaki unlike Boracay kasi 'yung Boracay kung saan 'yung project na dapat linisin doon din mismo 'yung swimming area, dito [El Nido] hindi kasi dito lang 'yung loading area going to islands," Environment Undersecretary Benny Antiporda said during the Saturday news forum at Annabel's Restaurant in Quezon City.

"Kasi ang pinakabuhay ng El Nido is the island hopping," Antiporda said, noting that the areas that are recommended for closure are merely "loading" and "unloading" areas for incoming and outgoing tourists.

The proposed closure of the four barangays in El Nido - Masagana, Buena Suerte, Corong Corong, and Maligaya - was triggered by the high level of fecal coliform in the said areas' outfalls, according to the DENR official.

Antiporda said Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu, Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, and Interior Secretary Eduardo Año will come up with a decision on the recommended closure of four barangays for swimming activities on August 1.

"Since that is the situation na magkaroon ng problema ang mga turista na pupunta, they'd rather come up with a recommendation to shut the four barangays," he said. — MDM, GMA News