Boracay closure

Sen. Bam to gov’t: Tulungan ang manggagawang nawalan ng trabaho sa Boracay

Senator Bam Aquino urged concerned government agencies to give sufficient assistance to displaced workers in Boracay until the tourist destination resumes operation on October 26. 
 
“Ang kinikita ng mga manggagawa kada buwan ay dapat tumbasan ng ibibigay na tulong ng pamahalaan. We owe it to the displaced workers,” said Sen. Bam during the hearing of the Committee on Tourism hearing on the Boracay island’s closure, which started in April. 
 
However, government agencies working on the Boracay rehabilitation admitted that their financial assistance programs are limited. DOLE’s emergency employment program for informal sector workers is only good for 30 days and beneficiaries cannot re-apply to the program.
 
“Kaya ba nating dagdagan ang tulong sa ating manggagawa to at least match the minimum wage? Pagdating ng Agosto, ayaw din naming marinig na wala nang natatanggap na tulong ang mga tao roon,” Sen. Bam insisted. 
 
According to different government agencies, the Boracay closure affected around 21,286 formal workers and 4,764 informal workers. However, Malay Mayor Cecito Cawaling declared that there are around 18,000 informal workers in Boracay. 
 
Sen. Bam urged concerned government agencies to ensure sufficient funds to cover all financial assistance given to formal and informal workers. 
 
The senator also slammed the government for hastily closing Boracay without any clear and concrete plan on how go by its rehabilitation and how to help displaced workers. 
 
Sen. Bam issued this pronouncement after the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) admitted that it will take more than six months, or until the end of 2019, before the drainage problem is finished. 
 
“Bakit pa natin sinara ang Boracay at pinahirapan ang 26 thousand na mga manggagawa?” Sen. Bam asked. 
 
“Ginawa ang pagsara na walang malasakit sa mga manggagawa. Ginawa ito na walang plano, at ngayon naghahabol ang mga ahensya sa man-made disaster na ito,” added Sen. Bam. 
 
During the hearing, Mayor Cawaling also criticized the government’s lack of clear plan on the rehabilitation of Boracay.

Sen. Bam: No point in Boracay shutdown until gov’t develops solid plan, procedure

Just days before the start of its six-month shutdown, the government has yet to show a clear plan to rehabilitate Boracay Island and to provide assistance to those affected by its closure.

“Ilang araw na lang at isasara na pero wala pang inilalabas na plano para ma-rehabilitate ang Boracay. Kailangan rin ng plano para sa mga maliliit na negosyante at freelancers,” said Sen. Bam Aquino, referring to the impending closure of Boracay on April 26.

“Huwag pahirapan ang mga Pilipino kung wala pang malinaw na plano,” Sen. Bam stressed.

Sen. Bam said the government should delay its plan to close Boracay if it has no definite plan for its rehabilitation and for the delivery of assistance to its residents, who are relying on the island for their livelihood.

Earlier, Sen. Bam called on concerned government agencies to provide assistance to small businesses that will be affected by the six-month closure of the island.

The senator said Negosyo Centers in Aklan and other nearby areas play a crucial role in keeping micro and small enterprises in the area afloat by connecting them to other markets and provide them with alternative livelihood.

 “Maaaring iugnay ng Negosyo Centers ang mga maliliit na negosyante sa iba’t ibang merkado habang naghihintay na bumalik sa normal ang operasyon ng Boracay,” said Sen. Bam, principal sponsor and author of Republic Act No. 10644 or the Go Negosyo Act.

Sen. Bam enlists help of Negosyo Centers to support vendors, freelancers during Boracay closure

Senator Bam Aquino said concerned government agencies should also help small businesses in Boracay as they are also will be affected by the administration’s six-month closure order on the island.

“Huwag nating kalimutan ang mga maliliit na negosyante, mga vendor at sumiside-line na tatamaan din sa pagsasara ng Boracay. Tumataas na nga ang presyo ng bilihin, mawawalan pa sila ng kita at kabuhayan,” said Sen. Bam. 

“Kailangan ng malinaw na plano at programa para sa mga maliliit na negosyo, tulad ng mga nagbebenta ng chori burger at naghehenna. Siguraduhin dapat ng gobyerno na may sapat na kita at kabuhayan pa rin ang ating mga kababayan sa Boracay ,” added Sen. Bam. 

Sen. Bam said Negosyo Centers in Aklan and other nearby areas play an important role in keeping micro and small enterprises in the area afloat by connecting them to other markets and provide them with alternative livelihood. 

“Maaaring iugnay ng Negosyo Centers ang mga maliliit na negosyante sa iba’t ibang merkado habang naghihintay na bumalik sa normal ang operasyon ng Boracay,” said Sen. Bam, principal sponsor and author of Republic Act No. 10644 or the Go Negosyo Act.

The law was the first of 19 laws passed by Sen. Bam. 

Passed during Sen. Bam’s term as chairman of the Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship in the 16th Congress, the Go Negosyo Act mandates the establishment of Negosyo Centers in all municipalities, cities and provinces that will assist micro, small and medium enterprises in the country. 

Negosyo Centers provide access to markets and financing for businesses, training programs, and a simplified business registration process, thus helping ease of doing business and fast-track government processes in putting up a business.

As of latest tally, there are more than 800 Negosyo Centers in different parts of the country, including around 10 in Aklan, ready to cater to the needs of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

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