64% of Pinoys support Boracay rehabilitation

FINISH THE JOB. More than half of Filipinos who participated in a special survey conducted by the Social Weather Stations (SWS) agreed with the government’s plan to close Boracay to tourists for one year in an effort to rehabilitate the seriously degraded island.

The nationwide survey was conducted from March 23 to March 27 among 1,200 respondents. It showed that 64 percent of Filipino adults agreed and 20 percent disagreed with the government’s endorsement to close the entire Boracay Island to tourists as full rehabilitation is done on the white-sand beach destination.

A total of 17 percent, however, were undecided on the matter.

The support for the one-year closure of Boracay was strongest among those from urban areas and Mindanao, as well as among those with higher education.

In Mindanao, 68 percent of respondents said that they support the government’s recommendation to close Boracay. Meanwhile, agreement with the closure of Boracay is at 69 percent in Metro Manila, 64 percent in the rest of Luzon, and 53 percent in Visayas. Agreement among college graduates was at 70 percent.

The survey also asked the respondents if they believe the closure would help in the rehabilitation of the island, and 64 percent agreed that the closure would help bring back the pristine beauty of Boracay.

Moreover, 61 percent said that they believe the closure would contribute in increasing the number of tourists in the future.

via Manila Bulletin / Ellalyn de Vera Ruiz