By Louine Hope U. Conserva, Correspondent

THE Western Visayas office of the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) announced on Wednesday, March 7, that it is ready to provide assistance to workers affected by the ongoing assessment of environmental violations in Boracay Island and the possible temporary closure of the popular tourist destination.

DoLE-Western Visayas Information Officer Amy Judicpa said they are anticipating an increase in the number of unemployed individuals in the region following the Boracay shake-up.

The business group Boracay Foundation, Inc. has said that more 90,000 workers are in danger of being displaced if the national government decides to shut down the island, the country’s leading tourism site.

On the other hand, data from the local government unit of Malay showed that there are more than 17,000 registered workers in Boracay.

“There are a lot of workers in Boracay that is why we have these interventions to answer the problem on unemployment,” Ms. Judicpa said.

DoLE’s program includes livelihood assistance and employment facilitation.

Individual beneficiaries can get a maximum of P20,000 in livelihood aid, while groups can get a capital fund of up to P1 million.

Mr. Judicpa said they have also partnered with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority for skills enhancement trainings.

DoLE will also conduct a job fair in partnership with the Department of Tourism to facilitate the employment of the displaced workers.

Based on Philippine Statistics Authority data, the unemployment rate in the region rose to 5.6% in October 2017 from 3.2% in the same period the previous year.

CLOSURE
Meanwhile, Senate President Aquilino L. Pimentel III on Wednesday, March 7, expressed support to the government’s plan to temporarily close Boracay to tourists for rehabilitation.

“It is only logical to close Boracay for renovations, so to speak. We must carefully assess the damage to the local environment and take the necessary steps for clean-up. The process is more easily done and more effective if there are no tourists around,” he said in a statement.

The Senate leader added that the closure would be “good in the long run for all stakeholders.”

The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG)   and the Department of Tourism (DoT) are considering a 60-day total closure of Boracay from June 1 to July 31.

President Rodrigo R. Duterte has also announced that he would declare a state of calamity in the tourist destination.

Sought for comment, Senator Cynthia A. Villar, chair of the committee on environment and natural resources, sees no negative effect with the President’s plan.

“Maybe he wants it so that the national government can do what it has to do in Boracay,” she told reporters after the hearing of the Commission on Appointments (CA).

Asked about her family’s business interests in Boracay, Ms. Villar said there is no conflict on her part regarding the Senate investigation into Boracay’s environmental problems, saying that establishments under the Villar-led Vista Land and Lifescapes, Inc. (VLL) are compliant with environment laws.

“We have a very small investment in Boracay, but we are in 139 towns and cities in the Philippines. If they close in one town, it doesn’t have an effect to the company. I’m not managing in our business,” she said.

“And if they want to close it, they can close it. It won’t matter to Vista Land,” she added.

Property developer VLL, which is chaired by Ms. Villar’s husband, former Senate president Manuel B. Villar, Jr., acquired the 54-room Boracay Sands Hotel, and through its condominium arm Vista Residences, developed Costa Vista Boracay in 2016. — with Camille A. Aguinaldo

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