The Department of Tourism (DOT) recently led the “Save Boracay” Working Conference at the Savoy Hotel in Boracay earlier this week, ahead of the scheduled April 26 closure of the resort destination.

Among those in attendance included representatives from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the Department of the Interior and Local Government, and the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority-Boracay Island Water Company, Inc. (TIEZA-BIWC).

Also present were representatives from local government units, including the Office of Malay Mayor Ciceron Cawaling.

During a subsequent press briefing, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, Jr. said the planned closure is “the only way.”`

“It’s a drastic policy measure intended to protect the environment,” he explained. “We wanted to see if we could delay it any further but, apparently, the water quality in Boracay necessitated the closure be done sooner than later.”/WDJ