Boracay Over Development

Saturday, January 12, 2008

Durano decries Boracay’s ‘development’

By Katrice R. Jalbuena, Reporter The current problems facing the island paradise of Boracay are not really due to over-development but rather to undisciplined development, Tourism Secretary Joseph “Ace” Durano said. “Since it was first proposed last year, we officially support the efforts of the Department of Environmental and National Resources (DENR) to implement a temporary moratorium on constructions on the island,” Durano said. The tourism secretary said Boracay still remains a big draw to foreign tourists and is a poster site for the Philippine tourism industry. Hence, it is important that the problems facing the island be addressed. To this end, the Tourism department is supporting projects to address Boracay’s problems that center on improving the island’s capacity to sustain its development without sacrificing its natural beauty. A P10-million solid waste ma­nagement system has been constructed and put into place on the island. Inspections of all kitchens in existing establishments of the island have been conducted, and are required to implement best practices and comply with sanitation standards. A comprehensive land use plan is being drawn up, and will be the basis for the issuance of future business and building permits and environmental compliance certificates. The plan will sector the island into areas delineated for specific uses. An example would be the iden­tification and preservation of watershed areas, which are essential for continued water supply. However, Durano said there has yet to be a clear study on where exactly the watersheds in Boracay are located. The land use plan should help answer such questions. Durano also expressed frustration on the local governments of Boracay for lack of cooperation in implementing the moratorium on the issuance of business permits. “There is a need for the DENR to have an active presence on the island, maybe to station personnel on the islands . . . . What they need is people on the ground who can really monitor the situation and make sure that policies and regulations governing the environment on the island are strictly implemented.” Durano said.