JUST got back from Boracay where my Asian Institute of Management (AIM) class that graduated in 1973 got together for its 35th anniversary reunion. The reunion included some overseas members of our class and spouses of many of the members. While my classmates were enjoying the white beach and sparkling water, not to mention the many amenities our hotel had to offer, I spent some time observing the pace of development in the island and what this would portend in terms of the pristine nature of the place.
Before leaving, I got in touch with a classmate from my La Salle days, Charlie Uy, owner of Patio Pacific resort in Boracay (winner of many awards, based on the citations I saw in the main office) to get a feel of the latest on the island. Charlie has another persona as president of the local Boracay Chamber of Commerce — affiliated with the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. — and who has a genuine affection and caring attitude for the proper development of the island.
He cited a private sector-led effort to put up a Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) with a CIDA grant of P2M and a counterpart P2M that local businessmen put up. The MRF is an initial stab at getting rid of the stinking garbage problem of the island, but it must be augmented somehow. On the other hand, the government has managed to throw over P200M into a drainage project that seems to be going nowhere. In fact, it rained briefly in the morning on the second day of our stay there and the roads and byways promptly got flooded. The small airport facility is a joke, and if it were not for the anticipation of the island’s beaches or thankfulness for having been able to enjoy oneself, is a mini-nightmare especially to departing passengers. Surely, some bright government functionary whose agency is tasked with development of tourism infrastructure should get off his sorry ass and do something about this, because the private sector can’t carry the burden for this project! I know which GOCC is concerned because I headed it once when President Cory came into office. Stop sitting on that cash hoard please and do something for a shining jewel that has contributed much to both foreign and domestic tourism!
Finally, the local municipal council heeded the admonitions it has been getting from the natural resources department and has imposed a moratorium on new construction. Really, there must be an effort to make sure that the island does not become overdeveloped given its fragile ecosystem and lack of resources such as water and electricity. Not to mention a larger waste disposal facility for human and wet waste for the entire island, other than that private sector-led effort by the local Chamber of Commerce with its MRF.
January 19th, 2008 at 11:05 pm
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
January 19th, 2008 at 2:03 pm
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…
January 19th, 2008 at 5:38 am
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.
January 19th, 2008 at 3:13 am
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!
January 18th, 2008 at 11:32 am
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.