Make Boracay ‘healthy’ again

I read with interest Ceres P. Doyo’s column, “Thousands urinate in Boracay waters” (Opinion, 4/12/18).

We have just left Boracay after spending some days there for a large family get-together to celebrate birthdays. Some of us are from Australia while the rest are from Manila and Iloilo.

We have enjoyed Boracay before but this time, out of a large family of 30, over half went down with stomach complaints and two contracted cholera.

Two others were hospitalized upon their return to Manila, also for stomach-related illnesses. One was unable to work for three days after returning to Australia due to a stomach ailment.

We, therefore, wholeheartedly support President Duterte’s call to temporarily close the island for extensive rehabilitation of its sanitary system, water supply and also improvement of its road system.

It has been a prime holiday destination but if these serious health issues are not addressed, word will go around and tourism will rapidly decline in Boracay.

We look forward to the day when it will be healthy again and we can enjoy its unique
features once more.

FRANK ROWE, BEVAN RAMSDEN, MARY ANN RAMSDEN, CARNATION ROWE, SHARON RAMSDEN, SHERYL RAMSDEN, Newcastle and Sydney, Australia