The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) is recommending the declaration of a state of calamity in the world-famous Boracay Island to ensure smooth rehabilitation efforts there.

The recommendation was the product of a meeting among member-agencies of NDRRMC on Monday, presided over by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana as chairman of the council.
The declaration shall cover three barangays on Boracay Island in Malay, Aklan for a maximum period of one year.
The NDRRMC also recommended the temporary closure of the island for a period of six months to allow the government in its expeditious rehabilitation, as well as in addressing the evolving socio-economic needs of affected communities.
“The draft resolution recommending the declaration of a state of calamity in the affected barangays covering Boracay Island was approved by the national council subject to minimal modification as discussed during the meeting and for review of the Legal Working Group,” Lorenzana said.
“This concerted effort from the National DRRM Council is in continued pursuit of our initiatives to building disaster resilient Filipino communities,” he added.
The affected barangays are Balabag, Manoc-Manoc, and Yapak which comprise Boracay Island.
The NDRRMC recommendation is expected to be forwarded to Malacanang for President Duterte’s approval yesterday.
In attendance during the NDRRMC meeting were secretaries, head of agencies and representatives of the departments of Health (DoH), Science and Technology (DoST), Interior and Local Government (DILG) and Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
Based on the investigation and validation undertaken by the DILG and DENR, pollution caused by improper waste management and encroachment of protected areas by illegal structures have adversely affected the overall ecological balance of the Island.
Findings of the DoST further revealed that beach erosion is prevalent in Boracay Island, particularly along the West Beach where as much as 40 meters of erosion has taken place in the past 20 years from 1993 to 2003, and is largely due to storms, extraction of sand along the beach to raise properties, and structures along the foreshore. 
In addition, Regional DRRM Council VI data shows the significant increase in tourist arrivals in the Island for the last five years, specifically from 1,206,252 tourist arrivals in 2012 to 2,001,974 tourist arrivals in 2017.
The President has already ordered the closure of Boracay Island from tourists starting Thursday to pave the way for the rehabilitation of the world-famous destination.