The future of Boracay
Despite the looming closure of Boracay, the local partner of Galaxy Entertainment Group is still apparently looking to buy more land in the island. According to Boracay affairs officials, Leisure and Resorts World Corp. (LRWC) has already bought 23 hectares of land in Barangay Manoc-Manoc, and is looking for more land to buy.
Is this why Pagcor seems hopeful that the plans of Galaxy Entertainment Group may push through, that is the construction of a casino in Boracay? The company has already obtained a provisional license from Pagcor. If LRWC is looking for more land to buy, do they know something the public doesn't? We have heard President Duterte state that no casino will be built in Boracay, and that the land will be distributed to farmers. The Department of Agrarian Reform has even started to identify possible beneficiaries, interestingly, for areas in Barangay Manoc-Manoc. If the LWRC is still buying land, are they ready to lose it to farmers, should the land reform plans of Duterte be implemented? Or do they know that land reform in Boracay will not happen?
Boracay will close on April 26. The local government is supposedly ready to comply with the island's closure and rehabilitation. I am certain that problems will arise during the first days of the closure. Residents, entrepreneurs, those working in the island will surely encounter some issues with regards to entering and exiting. Some informal workers are already complaining about the difficulty of getting an ID to enter and exit the island, due to a lack of requirements. It is of no surprise that they would lack requirements, being informal workers. Some claim that they have worked on the island all their lives, but were self-employed, not having a 'Certificate of Employment' to show for. They were never part of a company. These are just some of the issues that officials will have to address.
Many large businesses have temporarily released most of their employees, but skeleton crews are still needed to maintain their respective establishments. The companies have promised to take back the employees as soon as the island resumes operations. I wonder what is happening to the government assistance for workers and employees affected by the closure? Thousands are sure to be affected by the closure, with no money coming in for six whole months. "Survivor: Boracay" may well be a reality show the affected would not want to be cast in.
Boracay will open in October, if it is truly closed for six months. It is expected that at that time, the issues that plagued Boracay would have been addressed and acted on. We can now only wait for all of government's rehabilitation plans to take place. Perhaps it is also necessary to clear the air on the future of Boracay, because of seemingly contradicting statements made by some.
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