Richard Gordon backs Boracay rehabilitation

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Richard Gordon supports the rehabilitation of Boracay, including the possible shutdown of the island as proposed by President Duterte to clean up the world-famous resort.

Unless Boracay is cleaned and rehabilitated, Gordon said the country could lose the island paradise.

“Boracay is overloaded, it is beyond capacity. It’s a mess. They have to help themselves. It’s time Boracay is reinvented,” Gordon, a former secretary of the Department of Tourism (DOT), said. 

“It’s time, since this is a national asset even if it’s under provincial control, that it is protected,” he added.

Gordon lamented that Boracay is plagued not only by problems with carrying capacity, but also with issues on enforcement and compliance of establishments to the sewerage line.

Gordon said that Boracay’s capability to control “rapacious developments” should be strengthened and that the DOT should prepare a plan and timeline for its rehabilitation.

He said the focus should not be limited to Boracay but on all beaches in the country so they won’t end up contaminated. 

The DOT reported that out of the 150 business establishments in Boracay that were recently inspected by the government, only 25 firms were connected to the sewage line and a number of establishments drained their sewage directly into the sea. 

The Sewerage Line Phase 1 built by the now defunct Philippine Tourism Authority was inaugurated 15 years ago. 

In a recent business forum held in Davao City, President Duterte threatened to shut down Boracay, which he described as a “cesspool.”

Boracay Island has hogged the limelight after Duterte’s threat to close the island if its environmental ills would not be fixed in six months.

Acting on the President’s order, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said there are 300 business establishments in the island resort that violate Chapter 5, Section 27 of the implementing rules and regulations of Republic Act No. 9275 or the Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004.

After violators of the Philippine Clean Water Act, the DENR Region 6 would crack down on illegal structures in Boracay.

Starting Monday, DENR-6 will start serving show cause orders to 842 illegal structures in the island.

Jim Sampulna, DENR-6 regional executive director, said the 842 structures have encroached on areas that are considered as forest land.

Aside from forest land dwellers, DENR will also be checking establishments and structures within the 30-meter radius from the shoreline.

Meanwhile, Sampulna said they are also looking at overpopulation in Boracay.

One of the solutions being considered was for workers of hotels and resorts to stay in mainland Malay, Aklan.

Sampulna said the local government of Malay has the power to act on Boracay’s problems.– With Jennifer Rendon