Destinations known | Duterte’s ‘cesspool’ Boracay Island set for closure. Or is it?

Voted Best Island in the World by readers of Condé Nast Traveler magazine last year but slammed as a “cesspool” in 2018, how the mighty island of Boracay has fallen. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte recently called for its temporary closure, on account of overdevelopment and dangerous levels of sewage that threaten to stain its famous white sands a far less appealing shade of sludge, in addition to various environmental concerns.

“For public health, public interest and general welfare, I recommend to the president the closure of Boracay island as tourist destination for a maximum of one year effective one month after the declaration,” Cimatu said.