it could have been such a paradise. If not well taking care of it will soon be such a wish in mind as you ponder from a picture of what it was like then.

Hi Mr. Digoy,

Let me share with you my concern and comments regarding my island. I would agree there are some things to be done. In any manner, tourism and Aklan can’t live without Boracay. But Boracay requires basic infrastructure and upgraded system both in land. To mention a few ,on its ports of entry, roads, docking areas and transport system, etc.

For big funded projects, you may understand that it is the NATIONAL GOVERNMENT particularly PTA is in charge in the implementation such projects for Boracay Island.

Way back in 1989, your office (then)PTA and the DOT has identified the “components” of the Boracay Environmental and Infrustructure Projects(BEIP), an Feasibility Study(FS) was prepared, some projections has been set until 2015 .The project was funded under OECF Soft LOAN AGREEEMENT with the Government of Japan on which I heard it reached as high as as 800million pesos loan package .

For now, Boracay stakeholders share and pays for this development too, as they are being charged for every cubic meter of their wastewater discharged to the STP. There are problems arising in the operational side of the treatment plant which contributes to the problems of Bolabog part. Its seems that the solution is practical but it remains to be unsolved and/or constant. You may ask DENR Pollution Officers how to mitigate that situation. Its easy, but for government bureaucracy(?), waste untreated, is waste forever. It is not because of overdevelopment, it is simply logistics and demand on supply for operating an STP.

I noticed two components of that OECF project was completed in early 2003, which was implemented by the PTA and not the local government of Malay . From 2004 to 2006 barely four years in operation, I am privy to various
complaints that were filed up at the Office of BWSS most of which complaints stated were about cloggings or unreasonable high charges imposed even during off season even when nobody is occupying the guest rooms of one’s hotel.

There was small percentage of residents connected to the system while 80 percent of resorts is connected to the sewer system as compliance with the local law, sanitary permits and environmental protection. But the PTA people says the system is already overrated. But I wont never agree with this claim because technology never sleeps. There is some Filipino consultants and Sanitary Engineers out there who has the ready -made answer to this situation.

Sometime in 2006, DENR /EMB, Iloilo Regional Office suggested to PTA that an “Oil Seperator ” should be installed so that the Treatment Plant can operate at its best while serving the growing Boracay Community. Nothing was implemented at the moment.

Still the PTA is in charge of the planning, design, construction and operation of this big/huge project in the island which, is supposed to address a long term solution.
Mr. Barbers and his bright engineering team should hold office in the island once again like PTA people did 15 years ago. Boracay problems needs serious and immediate solution because of high traffic of visitors. An engineering team should be in place.

I agree that rapid developments are undertaken both by investors and local residents in the island. It is not the Office of the Mayor who is needing additional rooms. It is the various resort owners and the bussinesses who are expanding. Can’t the PTA or the local government joined their forces together, sit down, plan and execute additional or appropriate infrastructures needed for the island? Environmental issues such as flooding can be addressed by engineering interventions. We needed serious and compassionate people to do the job in that fragile island.

I strongly reiterate that there is a need to upgrade the facilities of the government particularly the local treatment plant(BWSS) while the private resorts keep improving their own buildings. It is a matter of when they(the government) will respond to answer the needs of the fast-faced tourism industry of Aklan as a whole. Resorts and hotel need to repair their facilities from rooms, to kitchen and even pools to upbeat with the growing market. Why can’t the government appropriate funds (5-year basis) and do parallel programs , build infrastructure like roads,modern docking area,install upgraded technology available for STP and other solutions without wasting too much time on blaming each other? Nevertheless, respecting the authority of the local government and not to threat them of exposure to insults and undermining their capabilities to perform their responsibilities on their area of jurisdiction.

I also believe the DOT/PTA has a bunch of architects , engineers and consultants that can can take charge of this small situation, work with LGU-Malay and thus, solve this present misfortune.

We need to keep our tourism industry at par and grow rich as those with our neighbors in the Asian region. We should consider helping the local government think, plan and execute programs with corresponding “FUNDING” needed to solve pity problems in Boracay.

Speaking of MRF,in January 2006, it was Bgy. Balabag stakeholders who came up with the first P60thousand pesos to build the MRF at Pinaungon while The Tirol family donated the lot, for the MRF to be built. The local government funded the rest of the construction. BCCI generously donated one four-wheeled garbage van.

We need to help our own and the local community. We are blessed with God given gift, Boracay White Beach Island. One cant find it here in foreign land.Let us love it, embrace it and protect it.
In this case, prompt and timely actions should speak louder than words.

Thats all for now. PLEASE MODERATE.

WOW Philippines, I love Boracay!

Gauging from your brief but concise observaton of the condition at Boracay, i.e. the inability of the drainage infrastructure ( if there is one )to handle the community’s waste disposal - it would indeed be ironic if further construction development would lend to further deterioration of its ecosystem and eventually to the tourism in the locale. The construction moratorium could only last for some time - and unless it dovetails to a timeframe for the workable drainage infrastructure to be set up before the moratorium is lifted - then the effort would have gone to naught.

I couldn’t have agreed more. I was there after Christmas and was sorely disappointed at how the island has become just one huge and crowded talipapa. The water is not as crystal and pristine as it was over 10 years ago (my last visit). So sad—I brought my little kids who still enjoyed the warm water but I don’t think I would go back. The facilities are substandard, it is such a hassle to transfer from caticlan, too
many peddlers and boat trip hawkers, the beach gets dirty by late morning and no visible signs of any govt authority in-charge of keeping the island clean. Boracay is another example of the Philippines being a basket case…

I totally agree with your opinion! I am one of those lucky tourists to experience Boracay when it was still pristine and unpolluted! It was absolutely divine! I was there in 1989- not a single motorized vehicle was insight. No electricity. No phones. It was a total getaway place. Then…

Jo

Yes, well said. I lived on Boracay for 5 years. The tragic reality of the island is there no real sense of team in the local community the locasl are fighting over land allocations, the foriegners are fighting over business share. The local government are fighting to bring in more revenue. As a result no one is focused on fixing the island, everyone is fighting their corner. Anyone who would argue this point may as well save there breath. Yes the rubbish has had a solution applied and yes we did finally get a road HURRAH!
Everything else is simply too late and now very complex, too many tricycles, too many buildings, too many vehicles, we actually have cars on Boracay! which is totally rediculous and should never have been allowed. There is a sewerage system which is was not sufficient years ago that was before the major resorts landed like Discovery shores and Shangrila. By the way don’t these multi million dollar resorts do there research before they set up. There is not enough resource to support you! Guys how much did it cost you to NOT find this out? The island is suffering from water and electricity shortages, certain parts of the island get there water shut off on a rota and people who live in highr parts of the island really suffer as the water pressure can’t push the water up there. I could go on the list is endless. Accountability and incompetence are questions here, but as usual these are words of theory never reaching application. I have heard government masterplans I have sat in meetings and presentations and others before me. All authorities are aware of ALL issues with no stone unturned but nothing is ever done.
I am particularly passionate about the hospital or lack of one so I will have my rant now. Remember this is the Jewel in the Crown of the Philippines, with very high tourist numbers and large revenues and taxes. So Tourists equal revenue and large numbers of tourists doing action sports is a very serious responsibility of the local government. 5 years ago I went into the local hospital and I was appauled at the facilities. Mosquito and cockroach infested rooms, minimal equipment much of which does not work or no one knows how to use it. In 5 years there has been no improvement at all. How can this be allowed to continue? How do the wealthy local businesses allow this to happen. In fact everyone on the island has a responsibility to every tourist that lands on the island. These tourists feed and clothe families and children, they pay for lifestyles and infrastructure. It is an insult to the tourist that this is the best we can do for their safety and welfare.
There used to be a donation box which tourists used to put money in, until it was stolen. Once again those who help others are at the bottom of the pile being abused.

The doctors and nurses do their best with the little they get in funding. They are very busy with local bronchial and digestive problem from poor living conditions and get there share of Emergency injuries and critical situations to deal with. There is an increase of none English speaking tourists recently to add to the diagnosis problem. This should be a fully furnished hospital with speacialised equipment and resources. The tourists pay for it every day however like most other things the money never gets there.
Who is respnsible? Forget tax allocation from Manila. Local government should get donations from every business on Boracay annually and ALL yes ALL the money should develop and maintain the hospital as a Boracay independent project.

Anyone of any influence on Boracay who is not bound up in there own little Boracay world should do something about this and you all know it.

Just because you can afford to fly to Manila if you get injured does not mean tourists can. Two kiteboarders collided recently and both had broken legs. One had money and a helicopter was sent. The wrong type of helicopter arrived one you could only sit in and not lie down. In the end this tourist had to cross to caticlan then get a van to Kalibo to get a plane to manila with a shattered leg. The other one from Russia I think had no money and I do not know what happened to him.

It simply is not good enough and it makes you ashamed to be part of the Boracay mis-instution.

Excuse my English on the previous I was typing in a hurry ad did not check it.

The comments are almost all unanimous that somehow, our beloved Boracay has become so over-developed with very little supporting infrastructure that it may well go the other way. Pity. I was not around long enough, but I had requested the man in charge under me to work closely with the stakeholders and try to impress on the need to maintain quality standards and not to overdevelop. After I left govt the ff year, I found that big resorts had began to come in but that basic services still were found wanting. The comments from those who read this blog are mostly valid. In fact, a dirty little secret has to do with the comment on the sewage system. Some people say that not all establishments are connected to it. So where do they flush their effluents I wonder?
Boracay has so much promise but it may sink under its own weight. Which is why I know that many more astute investors have put their hard earned money in nearby Carabao island. Hope they don’t do to that island what was done to once pristine Boracay

boracay has become a place of worldly decadence. infrastructure has obscured the mystic of nature.

a good time to go to bora is actually during the rainy season and hope it doesn’t rain. man, you would really appreciate the beauty of the beach.

Hi Sir,

I personally experienced all the things that you said in your write ups last week when our class conducted environmental fieldtrip trip there. Even though its my first time to experience the beauty of one of the jewel of our country I can say boracay island is over populated or can I use the word over-developed? For me its so tiring to see the previous virgin island on its polluted state. Im sad for the reality of the present situation of the island.