The Philippine island of Boracay will be closed to tourists for six months following concerns of damage to its once pristine shores. Boracay is popular with foreign and local tourists -- Photo: REUTERS A spokesperson for President Rodrigo Duterte said the closure will begin on 26 April. Earlier this year Mr Duterte said Boracay was turning into a "cesspool" and threatened to shut it down. The island, known for its white-sand beaches, attracted nearly 2 million visitors last year. The decision has prompted concern for the thousands of people employed in Boracay's busy tourist trade. The island is home to around 500 tourism-related businesses, which drew in annual revenue of $1.07bn (£760m) last year. The government said affected companies will receive financial aid. Damage fears The move follows growing concern over the island's environmental health. Officials had warned businesses had been releasing wastewater into the surrounding waters. In February, Mr Duterte … [Read more...] about Philippines to temporarily close popular tourist island Boracay
Philippines
Netflix series shows ‘necessary’ Philippine drug war: director
The deadly drug war waged by Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is to be dramatised in the first Netflix series by award-winning director Brillante Mendoza, who says the internationally-condemned crackdown is "necessary." "Amo," which premieres April 9, is about a high school student who starts selling crystal meth and ends up tangled in a nightmarish world populated by violent kingpins and corrupt officials. It is the latest up-close examination of the dark side of Philippine life from Cannes-honoured Mendoza, who is a Duterte supporter and has filmed two government advertisements promoting the president's anti-drug campaign. "Yes, it (the drug war) is necessary for the Philippines - not only for the Philippines but also other countries afflicted with the drug problem," the 57-year-old Filipino told AFP in a telephone interview. "The reason why I did this is so people can see the other side of the coin," he said - from the point of view of the "victims" as well as the "victimizers." … [Read more...] about Netflix series shows ‘necessary’ Philippine drug war: director
Philippines to close Boracay resort to tourists for six months
MANILA — The Philippines has announced its best-known holiday island Boracay will be closed to tourists for six months over concerns that the once idyllic white-sand resort has become a "cesspool" tainted by dumped sewage. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the shutdown to start April 26, his spokesman Harry Roque said late on Wednesday on Twitter, without providing further detail. The decision raises questions about the livelihoods of thousands employed as part of a bustling tourist trade that serves some two million guests on the island each year. Boracay has some 500 tourism-related businesses, which had a combined annual revenue of 56 billion pesos (US$1.07 billion) last year. However in February Duterte blasted the tiny island’s hotels, restaurants and other businesses, accusing them of dumping sewage directly into the sea and turning it into a "cesspool". Officials have warned the island’s drainage system is being used to send the untreated sewage … [Read more...] about Philippines to close Boracay resort to tourists for six months
Philippines investigates Grab-Uber deal
The Philippines has announced that it will put the ride-sharing service provider Grab into the anti-competition watchlist after its acquisition of rival Uber’s Southeast Asia business (Photo: Channel NewsAsia) Hanoi (VNA) – The Philippines has announced that it will put the ride-sharing service provider Grab into the anti-competition watchlist after its acquisition of rival Uber’s Southeast Asia business. In a statement, the Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) said it will closely monitor the deal as the Grab-Uber acquisition is likely to have a far reaching impact on the public transport and transportation services. … [Read more...] about Philippines investigates Grab-Uber deal
Philippines, Malaysia put Uber-Grab deal under anti-competition scrutiny
Philippines and Malaysia said on Monday they will look into whether Uber Technologies' move to sell its Southeast Asian business to ride-hailing rival Grab hinders competition, days after Singapore began a probe into the deal on similar concerns. The expanded scrutiny of the deal in Southeast Asia could pose a major hurdle to the U.S. firm's attempt to improve profitability by exiting its loss-making regional operation. It also comes as Grab is set to face tougher competition from Indonesian rival Go-Jek. In a rare move, Singapore last week proposed interim measures to require Uber and Grab to maintain their pre-transaction independent pricing until it completes a review of the deal, saying it had "reasonable grounds" to suspect that competition had been infringed. "The Grab-Uber acquisition is likely to have a far reaching impact on the riding public and the transportation services. As such, the PCC is looking at the deal closely," the Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) said in a … [Read more...] about Philippines, Malaysia put Uber-Grab deal under anti-competition scrutiny