Goals for Boracay: Staying within its ‘carrying capacity’ and no more shortcuts for permits

It's a long six months for Task Force Boracay, but Interior and Local Government officer-in-charge Eduardo Año said that their sleeves are rolled up and they are ready for the grueling and somewhat thankless job.

In a press conference on Thursday, Año acknowledged the criticisms hurled at the decision to close down Boracay, yet he said that they are standing by it.

He added that six months is actually too short a period for the needed rehabiliation.

"'Yong anim na buwan na ito, clean up and restoring order muna 'yong importante. We cannot do all the work in just the span of six months," he said.

The DILG is part of Task Force Boracay, an interagency group headed by Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu that was formed to address the numerous problems in the island, including sewage, waste disposal, and road congestion.

Carrying capacity

DILG Assistant Secretary Epimaco Densing told the press that they, along with the Department of Tourism, will be providing support for the DENR to find out the exact carrying capacity of the island. Their eventual goal is for the island to "self-correct" as Task Force Boracay implements road-widening and pipe-laying activities and the demolition of illegal structures.

Densing said that Boracay should be safe from exploitation at the end of the six month closure.

"Everything now is now dependent on the upcoming, updated carrying capacity of the island, which the Department of Environment and Natural Resources has said will come out by April 30 or, at the latest, first week of May," Densing said.

"Once that comes out, it will be the foundation of all regulatory set-up of Boracay Island. If it says, for instance, that the carrying capacity in terms of the population of the island is only 50,000, then if there is 30,000 residents then we can only [have] 20,000 tourists in a day," he added.

Densing said that Task Force Boracay will also monitor new construction on the island.

"If it says that the island is already 'over-structured' in terms of buildings and establishments, then we'll have to find ways to reduce the number of structures in the island. So everything is now dependent on the carrying capacity study that the DENR is doing," he explained. "So kung anong magiging itsura ng isla, magkakaroon siya ng tinatawag nating 'natural correction'."

The Department of Labor and the Department of Social Welfare and Development, meanwhile, will help in decreasing the dependence of Boracay's economy on tourists.

Wild Wild West

However, Año stressed that their first priorty is to clean up the island.

"I-untangle muna natin 'yong mga violations na nagawa for the last ten years," he said, pointing out the "over-issuance" of permits.

"In fact, even without permit, they constructed buildings. They do business without business permits. Parang naging Wild Wild West itong Boracay," he declared. "Ito 'yong gagawin natin for the next six months: restore order and then put up new rules and regulations that will protect Boracay forever."

Tourism Assistant Secretary Frederick Alegre added that the issuance of all permits now will have to be tightened by the three agencies. "Hindi na po puwedeng mag-shortcut to the local government units," he said.

"Alam niyo po ang nangyari dito? Marami pong nag-apply ng undertaking habang pending ang lahat ng permits namin. Kaya 10 years na, undertaking pa rin," Alegre shared. "Not only in Boracay, but in all tourist destinations, we will implement this [rule] that nobody operates without a complete accreditation and other permits from the national government."

Cases against violators are already being prepared and charges against officials who may have contributed to the problem are currently being studied.

On the the first day of the six-month closure, President Rodrigo Duterte declared a state of calamity in Barangays Balabag, Yapac, and Manoc Manoc, lasting not more than one year, allowing the interagency task force created to "save Boracay" to tap additional funds for the rehabilitation program. — BM, GMA News