With more than 2 million visitors last year and revenue of over a billion U.S. dollars, Boracay is without a doubt Philippine tourism's crown jewel. In 2012, it was named by Travel and Leisure magazine the world's best island. But in February, President Rodrigo Duterte lashed out at Boracay business owners, saying they had turned the waters off the island into a cesspool. In the weeks that followed, hundreds of establishments were found to have violated environmental laws. Closures and demolitions were ordered.

BARNABY LO BORACAY ISLAND, PHILIPPINES "Most stakeholders here in Boracay do not dispute the need for a cleanup or for building new and better infrastructure. What they worry about are the possible repercussions of drastic measures the government is already taking and could still be taking." 

KEN NACOR FREESTYLE ACADEMY KITESURF CENTER "This is my land soon, that's it."

Barnaby: This is what's gonna be left of your establishment?

KEN NACOR FREESTYLE ACADEMY KITESURF CENTER "Yeah, after working, since I was 22 years old, I'm 39 now. I've been dreaming of building this for many years, and then, after 15 days, 6 months, your dream is gone."

Ken says he was never made aware by the local government that his building, like many in Boracay, needed to be 30 meters away from the water. In fact, he was able to do business unimpeded until the national government decided to crack down.

KEN NACOR FREESTYLE ACADEMY KITESURF CENTER "It's freaking me out. Even my wife from Australia is freaking out. We cannot move on."

It's not only Ken that's losing sleep over potential losses. Boracay businesses employ thousands. The Philippines' overall tourism industry stands to lose as well. But the government insists, despite recently giving the construction of a giant casino resort a go, that the crackdown and subsequent rehabilitation are long overdue.

RICKY ALEGRE, ASSISTANT SECRETARY, PHILIPPINE DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM "Do we have to wait for that time? That is the question we are positioning. And the government says no, we will no longer wait for that time. We will act now to sustain and save Boracay."

The hope is that even as it appears, Boracay residents and business owners will have to brace for a hard landing, efforts to save Boracay would pay off in the long run. Barnaby Lo, CGTN, Boracay, the Philippines