The Philippine tourism industry scrambled on April 6 to manage the fallout from the temporary shutdown of its world-famous Boracay island, which threw into chaos trips planned by hundreds of thousands of tourists. / AFP PHOTO / Ernesto CRUZ
By M.R. Faith Bolanos
Eagle News Service
MANILA, Philippines (Eagle News) — The national government will allocate P2 billion pesos in calamity fund for the assistance of affected workers during the rehabilitation period of Boracay island.
This statement was made by Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque after the proposal to close the Boracay Island was approved by President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday, April 5.
“There was a figure mentioned by the Secretary of Finance, and the amount mentioned was P2 billion for the displaced workers,” he said during a Palace press briefing.
The total closure is to address the island’s wastewater problem.
Roque then clarified that the assistance fund will only be allotted for displaced workers and not for resort owners.
“There will be a declaration of a state of calamity, but the President was insistent that the funds that will be spent will go only to the workers who will be displaced. He will not let any resort owner benefit from any sort of a calamity fund,” Roque said. (Eagle News Service)