Metro Manila, Philippines - President Rodrigo Duterte said
he will declare a condition of calamity in one of the country's most famous
travel destinations.
"Sabi ko na, "Sir, inutusan kita six months.
Tapusin mo 'yang problema sa Boracay," [I said, "Sir, you have six
months. Finish the problem in Boracay."]" Duterte said in a Tuesday
speech in Malacañang, pertaining to his marching orders to Department of
Interior and Local Government (DILG) officer-in-charge Eduardo Año.
The state of calamity would allow the quick release of funds
for those individuals who might be financially displaced by the island's
clean-up, Duterte said.
The DILG declared a six-month state of calamity to
accelerate rehabilitation endeavors, in spite of the fact that the President
did not specify a particular period.
On Feb. 10, Duterte called Boracay a "cesspool"
and requested the DENR to clean up the island within six months.
On Feb. 20, the DENR distribute a "mission team"
to address the island's environmental issues, with no less than 81 establishments
accepting notices of violation.
Meanwhile, the DILG said that more than 800 establishments
in Boracay are facing different violations.
"In the meantime, if I were from Boracay or you guys
there, the best thing for you to do is to cooperate with the government and
hasten the cleanup," Duterte said. "For as long as there are s***
coming out of those pipes draining to the sea, I will never give you the time
of the day na bumalik diyan [to return there]."
Duterte likewise cautioned the judiciary not to interfere in
the rehabilitation endeavors.
"I would caution the courts not to interfere by issuing
TRO (temporary restraining order) because you would just exacerbate the
situation," he said.
