While addressing the media yesterday, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, Jr. affirmed the planned closure of resort destination Boracay will push through despite petitions currently before the Supreme Court calling for a halt to the shutdown.

“An earlier Supreme Court ruling already recognized [the] bulk of Boracay belongs to the state,” he explained. “We do not see how individuals, who cannot claim ownership over Boracay, can suffer any irreparable injury.”

Roque confirmed proclamations to close the island were received by President Rodrigo Duterte yesterday morning and subsequently signed, declaring a ‘State of Calamity’ over Boracay Barangays Balabag, Manoc-Manoc, and Yapak.

According to the proclamation, the island will be under temporary closure “for six months starting 26 April 2018, or until 25 October 2018.”

Following the “Save Boracay” Working Conference earlier this month, during a subsequent press briefing, Roque said 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