Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 4) — Poor residents in Boracay who have been forced to vacate their homes due to the ongoing rehabilitation on the island will receive aid and access to “social safety nets”, Boracay task force chairman Roy Cimatu assured on Friday.
Cimatu, also the environment secretary, said the Boracay task force convened to discuss establishments that continue to disobey the island’s 25 plus 5 meter beachfront easement rule or no-build zones. Task force general manager Natividad Bernardino said some of the 90 structures that have yet to comply are housing 40 indigent families.
“As the BIATF completes its rehabilitation targets… it will make sure that aid will be given to indigent families affected by the implementation of the easement laws in Boracay,” said Cimatu in a statement, referring to the Boracay Inter-Agency Task Force.
Bernardino also assured that a working group composed of local and environment officials has been tasked to assess what specific assistance can be given to the affected residents.
On Tuesday, Cimatu acknowledged that not all locals can leave their homes immediately due to economic challenges brought by the pandemic. But at the same time, he commended the arrest of several violators and noted that demolitions of erring buildings and other structures will continue to improve Boracay.
