Boracay Convention Center plenaries in the function rooms. The Boracay Convention Center is part of the 79.21-hectare eco-village land in Boracay Island, which the Ayala group owned until June 2003. In 2005 alone, Boracay Property Holdings Inc., has so far invested $6 million or about P336 million to put up the world-class hotel and facilities in the area. Philippine Department of Trade and Industry Secretary Cesar A. V. Purisima had endorsed the conversion of the eco-village project, into a Tourism Economic Zone (TEZ) to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, who issued the presidential proclamation. The Trade department noted the rise in tourist bookings in
Presidency of Rodrigo Duterte policies and alleged incompetence. In April 4, Duterte announced that the government shall 'close down' all operations within the island of Boracay, the country's number one tourism destination, due to 'environmental concerns'. In April 10, Duterte admitted that the government has 'no master plan' in how to clean-up Boracay, which he called a 'cesspool'. In April 24, more than 600 military personnel were deployed by Duterte in Boracay, confusing the natives on the government's initial environmental wordings. In April 26, Boracay's 6-month closure began, and entire island was officially closed to the public. Duterte advocates federalism as a better system