Manila - There is no doubt Boracay deserved the recognition as one of the best beaches in the world. With picturesque skyline, turquiose blue water and an endless stream of activities from sun up to sundown, Boracay is a top Philippine tourist destination drawing in some P56 billion in tourism revenues.
Just in 2016, the International travel magazine Condé Nast Traveler named Boracay the Top Island in the World at an award party held at 1 World Trade Center in New York City, together with Palawan and Cebu at Condé Nast’s Top 20 Best Islands in the World.
But President Duterte in a recent public speech said he will close Boracay, calling it a “cesspool,” a stinging criticism but one Boracay had coming, according to locals.
He had given the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) six months to clean Boracay. The Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) went on a joint effort to save Boracay Island, Aklan Province from continuous destruction.
According to DOT Secretary Wanda Tulfo-Teo, “It’s a shame that Boracay, which has repeatedly been recognized by prestigious travel magazines as “the World’s Most Beautiful Island”, may yet end up a paradise lost if water contamination continues.”
A total of two million international visitors flock to Boracay for its natural beauty and water sports activities all year round, contributing nearly Php50 billion in annual receipts. Lately, it has also become a luxury cruise ship destination.
A DOT press release shares, “(the) 10.32 square-kilometer island paradise is nestled between the Sulu Sea and the Sibuyan Sea, comprised by three barangays Yapak, Bulabog, and Manok-Manok belonging to the municipality of Malay, Aklan and with an aggregate population of 34,000.”
Teo blamed the lack of proper sewerage system, as well as a number of business establishments that tap and dispose their waste through the rainwater drainage system all the way to the sea.
Another major problem that prompted the on-site meeting is the alarming recurrence of flooding in most parts of the Boracay tourist hub, particularly the flash flooding that occurred during the typhoon Urduja last December 18.
“That target is doable,” according to National Solid Waste Management Commission Secretariat executive director Eligio Ildefonso even as he noted that the cooperation of stakeholders would be key to achieving the goal.
Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu has deployed a "mission team" that will address the environmental problems in Boracay island. In a statement on Tuesday, February 20, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said that the team tasked to rehabilitate and restore Boracay will be composed of 50 personnel from 6 DENR regional offices.
"We will be using all our government and the DENR assets and personnel to do this job. Those who will be deployed will be on a rotation basis," Cimatu said, saying there's already DENR presence in Boracay since Monday, February 19. The environment secretary said each bureau of the department will also contribute personnel to "augment" their contingent in Boracay.
Cimatu earlier said business establishments releasing untreated wastewater and sewage into the waters around Boracay only have two months to "shape up," or else they will face closure.
"I say again, we should not fail, not only the President, we should not fail our people, Cimatu reportedly told DENR employees. At least 51 establishments in Boracay suspected of either causing pollution or flooding were already issued notices of violation.
Cimatu also cited the statistics below in his speech, based on initial findings of DENR teams on the ground:
• Total no. of establishments in Boracay: 2,600
• Estimated no. of establishments discharging wastewater: 834
• Establishments with discharge permits: 118
• Establishments which failed to renew discharge permits: 36
• Notice of violations issued: 36
"There will be about 12 teams totalling over 100 people which will be going there to uncover the violators. We expect the number of cases that will be brought before the Pollution Adjudication Board (PAB) to increase. The PAB will decide the closure and imposition of penalties on these errant establishments," Cimatu added.
We have been blessed with beautiful nature, the challenge is how do we take care of these beautiful blessings?
“World’s Most Beautiful Island”
-Condé Nast Traveler 2016 Readers’ Choice Award-
