The island paradise of Boracay may be temporarily closed.

Earlier this year, President Duterte ordered the temporary closure of Boracay due to the severely deteriorated environmental conditions. He recommended that the island suspend tourism for six months to allow for environmental restoration.

Relevant ministries and departments are currently in discussions regarding the temporary closure period. The closure is tentatively scheduled for April 26th, lasting from approximately two months to one year. During this time, the environment on Boracay Island will be restored, cleaned, and upgraded to return the island to its true name as a "paradise island."

According to Environment Minister Cimatu, reopening the island will depend entirely on the time it takes to clean it up. However, implementing the plan remains challenging. Businesses in the area will suffer significant losses if the island is closed, even temporarily. An inter-ministerial council will meet with representatives from the Department of Commerce and the Department of Labor to assist minimum wage earners at risk of losing their jobs. Meanwhile, Philippine Airlines, the national airline, has stated that it is ready to provide free assistance to customers in rebooking, canceling, and changing schedules once the closure is implemented.

Let's take a look back at some images of the paradise island of Boracay before it suffered from the severe environmental pollution it faces today.