Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Assistant Secretary Epimaco V. Densing III on Wednesday said the government is looking into a possible “soft opening” of Boracay by the first week of September, a month before the six-month closure period of the island destination lapses.
“At least prior to the closure , we have discussed at least the first week of September but we’ll have to discuss the definition of soft opening,” he told senators during the Senate hearing on Boracay’s environmental woes.
Mr. Densing also clarified that the schedule of the soft opening was not binding as specific conditions on the rehabilitation had to met before lifting the closure.
Senator Cynthia A. Villar, chair of the Senate committee on environment and natural resources, said the committee would be conducting a monthly hearing to monitor the progress of the rehabilitation of Boracay.
For his part, Senate Minority Leader Franklin M. Drilon believed that the rehabilitation would be completed until the first week of September but hoped the minimum reforms were placed.
“The reforms that are being instituted, certainly, will not be finished by that time but at least, the minimum requirements that meet environmental standards will be in place. On the long-term, we propose and the chair has agreed for a single authority to manage Boracay,” he told reporters. — Camille Aguinaldo

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