Big Move: Philippines Permanently Shuts Down Boracay For Six Months
Picture this: a gorgeous, white‑sand paradise—yet the government decides to close it for half a year. That’s exactly what happened when President Rodrigo Duterte declared Boracay a “cesspool.” Airlines immediately cut routes, hotels are bracing for cancellations, and local businesses are resigned to the reality that the closure is, as officials put it, non‑negotiable.
What Went Down?
- Timing: Closure starts 26 April, lasting until the end of October.
- Reason: Beyond the pandemic, Boracay’s once‑pristine waters and bustling nightlife had been ravaged by overdevelopment, sewage leakage, and a wall‑of‑illegal constructions spree.
- Scale: The island drew 2 million tourists last year and pumped in a billion‑dollar revenue.
Airlines’ Quick Response
Because flights were suddenly no longer available, carriers like Cebu Pacific, Philippine Airlines, and AirAsia pulled the plug on the usual schedule. They’re charging guests back all airfare or offering alternate routes to the island’s backup airports—Caticlan and Kalibo—just in case residents need to fly in or out.
- 14 daily round‑trip flights canceled by Cebu Pacific.
- Projected revenue loss: US$3–5 million (equivalent to S$3.94–6.6 million) for the six‑month period.
- The government estimates a 0.1 % dip in GDP for 2018 (though this study might be taken with a grain of salt).
Hotels, Resorts, and the Wallets Behind
The closure hit some heavy hitters, including the 88‑room Discovery World Resort, which announced it would liquidate deposits and re‑book guests for future stays—ready to shift some traffic to Palawan. Their stock took a hit, with a drop of up to 7.5 %.
Other tenured brands like Shangri‑La and Movenpick are prepping statements and watching their bookings swell on the rebound side of the calendar.
What The Government Plans
The officials are not simply shutting doors; they’re gearing up for a clean‑up, a renovation, and a grand reopening.
- “We’ll get rid of 948 illegal structures,” the interior minister declared in the name of ecological sanity.
- Infra‑upgrade focus: Roads, drainage, and trash disposal—the island can currently juggle 90–115 tons of waste daily, but only 30 tons are moved off-island.
- Potential soft opening 3–4 months post‑cleanup, with the next round of development boom.
Business Losses and the PM’s “Calamity Fund”
In a move reminiscent of a comfort‑food casserole for a rough patch, the government rolled out a 2‑billion‑peso (around S$50.5 million) “calamity fund,” intended to cushion the livelihoods of 30,000 people whose day‑to‑day lives depend on tourism. The pilots sigh, the vendors drum around, and the local tourism union feels a sprinkle of hope—just a temporary band‑age, until the resort reminders flicker up again.
Except for the businesses that celebrate the closure because it gives them a chance for deeper environmental and infrastructural work. “We’re all better off in six months,” said Monica Salomon, president of Global Estate (the regional anchor of Megaworld Corp). “It’s a vacation for the jungle that keeps on giving.”
Bottom Line You Can Trust
In plain English, the Philippines is temporarily saying “You’re off the hook” to enforce a cleaner‑, more sustainable Boracay. The price paid? A bit of a financial dent for airlines and front‑liners, but it’s a necessary step for the island’s long‑term health. That takes a little patience—much like waiting for a next‑gen TV to load—yet it might be worth it for the tides of a future better‑Boracay.
