Boracay is becoming a subject of ennui and nostalgia. We all have reached a point when we look back and preferred to “once upon a time” when the island resort was a picture perfect portrait of pristine beach. Now, for some people, Boracay is a bore. But we are looking for the rage.
Where is it?
Complaints of how overcrowded, polluted, abused, or damaged this nature paradise piles up year after year. But this year, it has reached new heights when even resort owners discouraged our company M2.0 from holding a corporate event there because “Boracay is too crowded this summer.”
Goodness, our friend Tiny will have difficulty looking for a private nook to do his thing with the local boys.
This is not a joke, and you can ask your friendly environmentalist to validate this: the island is sinking! The beachfront is significantly reduced to the point when some resorts have to build breakwaters to stop the erosion, which is the equivalent of putting a band-aid for internal hemorrhage.
Then there is the highway.
So just when you think the destruction of Boracay couldn't become any worse, especially since the PTA's recent "Storm Water Project" fiasco and the DENR's "Moratorium on Construction", which no one has taken any notice of or enforced, along comes the DPWH with their idea to "protect Boracay", a 8 meter wide concrete highway. They plan to build it right on the beach with a sea wall to protect the road, thus completely destroying the existing white sand beach. Their reason for this stupidity is to overcome the traffic congestion on the island, which will in turn allow more vehicles on Boracay.
And then there is the problem of garbage disposal and sewage. I doubt if Met Boy Richard Gutierrez who advocates (given millions of endorsements) to save Boracay, would allow his skin to be infected by those ecoli swimming in the waters.
Months ago, Environment Secretary Jose “Lito” Atienza has called for a six-month moratorium on development projects in
He pointed out that because of the overcrowding and unhampered construction of buildings, some portions of the island are experiencing flooding especially during the rainy season.
Six months is such a short time to rehabilitate an island, but at least it’s a good start. However, it can’t be implemented. Why? Local government!
Atienza has no legal authority to stop the construction of new structures, as environment secretary, but he urged the municipal council of Malay, where Boracay is located, to pass a resolution suspending the issuance of permits to open up new business and construct new structures.
The steady increase in tourist arrivals in Boracay resulted in a construction boom there. Tourist arrivals last year reached 554,181, 10.96 percent higher than the 499,457 arrivals recorded in 2005, according to the Department of Tourism (DoT). In 2006, Boracay’s income from tourism reached P10.18 billion 24.44 percent higher than the P8.18 billion earnings in 2005 and that rate is steady for the next years. The booming business on the island pushed the price of lands near the famous white beach to at least P45,000 per square meter, said Orlando Sacay, chair of the Boracay Foundation Inc. (BFI). The BFI is a group of resort owners, hotels and restaurants on the island. Sacay said they fully supported the call for a moratorium on development projects “Each week, the municipal council receives five to six applications for building permits on the island. The island will sink if this goes on,” Sacay said in a telephone interview.
DoT regional director Edwin Trompeta said they would welcome a moratorium on development projects on the island but it should have the support of the DoT, PTA, local government units and the Boracay Eminent Persons Group, which is mandated to map out policies for the sustainable development of the island’s tourism industry.
In 2005, Tourism Secretary Ace Durano also proposed a moratorium on development projects in Boracay.
So, it seems everyone – foreign tourists, national government, tourist operators, investment consultants – agrees to hold a moratorium.
Why is it not being done?
Two words: Mayor Cawiling. In his hands lies the future of the island. As to why he has not signed an ordinance to rehabilitate the island is another issue of Victorina. But clearly, the guy does not know how to deal with his problem.
As one blogger said, “When will someone with ½ a brain be given control of the 
Maybe our friend Mike Defensor was right all along?
the Supreme Court upheld a two-year-old presidential proclamation declaring Boracay Island as forest land and agricultural area owned by the state.Proclamation 1064, issued by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, classified Boracay Island into 400 hectares of reserved forest land, for "protection purposes" and 628.96 hectares of agricultural land, which is "alienable and disposable."
got this from Cat's Walk
Finally! This story makes me very happy! I applaud the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for holding these Boracay officials responsible for the destruction of the environment just so more hotels can built in that very small island. Even though most probably no one will get convicted because government officials never get convicted anyway.
As if there are not enough hotels in Boracay already. What these officials should understand is that tourists flock there because it is beautiful. If they allow more and more hotels to be built, and in consequence destroying its nature, NO MORE TOURISTS will go to Boracay. That is quite easy to understand I think. Even a person with an IQ of 10 can understand that. So, my conclusion is that they really don't care about sustaining Boracay's beauty. All these government officials care about filling their bank accounts as fast as possible before their term in office expires.
If only we have government officials who have the Filipino people's well-being in their hearts then my country surely will be a much better place. This is very frustrating to some of us who really loves the Philippines.
'daaaayy! agreedizimusness ang lola!
A few years back, I invited my Belgian friend, another one from UK and 2 other guys from the US to come with me sa Boracay. We stayed at Fridays and they were uberly happy with the accomodation and the drama chorva na sasalubungin ka nang lapad hahaha! Dinner was nice dahil there was even some cultural dances ek ek and one of my American friend na medyo napakamot sa ulo nung tinikling decided to try it out and it was hilarious hahaha
The following day? We hit the bitch err the beach. As in napa-bitch talaga kami because we ended up picking trash, me mga lata, bote, sako nang bigas everything. When we asked, sabi nang mga locals, yong mga tiga-Manila raw have no clue how to use the beach. I said "sabi nang mga locals".
Whatever the reason, fak is, trashy ang beach and it's a sorry state, yet kahit papano, i honestly still love Bora and it's really one of a kind. I just wish na people would know how to use the beach because it's the only one that we have na truly we could make yabang all over the world at talaga kamong pinagmamayabang ko sya.
As a matter of fact, my Ecuadorian friend, just flew to Boracay last month nung pinakita ko ang mga litraks. They had such a great time, they want to retire in the Philippines and are interested to buy properties sa Batangas. That was our conversation yesterday.
Wetlands likes marshes and swamps which absorb rain water were reclaimed and buildings where put up over them like THE REGENCY HOTEL.
The site which includes the D' Mall complex, was formerly a natural lagoon. BLAME IT ON ARANETA!
This causes rainwater to be stagnant because of a lack of natural outflow.
The development has mushroomed to a point that facilities are already overwhelmed.
The island now hosts around 1,000 business establishments, nearly half are resorts and hotels which cater around 600,000 tourists.
Mayor Ciceron Cawaling of Malay should be SHOT IN LUNETA for destroying the island!
Tama si MIKE DEFENSOR!
Mike said:
1 HE CLAIMS THAT BORACAY IS OWNED BY GOVERMENT.
2 HE REFUSES TO RECOGNIZE THAT TAX DECLARATION LANDOWNERS HOLD IS AN EVEDENCE OF OWNERSHIP DESPITE YEARS OF PAYMENT OF TAXES.
3 HE REFUSES TO HONOR THE DESICION OF COURT OF APPEALS THAT RECOGNIZED OUR OWNERSHIP RIGHTS AND ELEVATED THE CASE TO THE SUPREME COURT.
4 WORSE WHILE THE CASE AWAITS DESICIONS, HE HAD THE PRESIDENT DECLARE BORACAY AS "ALIENABLE AND DISPOSABL" SUBJECT FOR PUBLIC BIDDING.
TAMA si Mike Defensor... get rid of Boracay land grabbers!
DEFENSOR REDEEMED...
Boracay Islandis choking from development, pollution and human invasion, has found a defender in the Supreme Court.
The court has ruled that the island is wholly owned by the state, except for some titled property. Sitting en banc, the High Tribunal dismissed a petition filed by Mayor Jose Yap of Malay, Aklan and several other individuals seeking titles to several lots they have developed and occupied.
The ruling said that continued possession and considerable investment do not automatically give claimants a vested right in Boracay nor “give them a right to apply for a title to the land they are occupying.” The decision does not provide for automatic eviction of claimants and grants them other options for possession, such as a homestead or a sales patent as provided by law.
Boracay began as a natural paradise, wild and spacious, its beauty uncorrupted by commerce. Soon, businessmen discovered its possibilities, developers dug up the place, infrastructures rose on the landscape and the tourists followed. Eden transformed into a huge urban downtown in a matter of years.
There’s a limit to development and human pollution, but the authorities discovered this too late. Boracay’s waters are contaminated, the sewage system is not working and business has invaded every inch of space. Noise, stench and eyesores have blighted the island.
Mike Defensor planned a two-hectare dumping site for solid wastes in Caticlan... Eh ang kupad ni Cicero Cawaling kaya all the solid wastes (10 tons a day) of the island still go to a dumping site in Barangay Balabag. This would be really disastrous to the island’s tourism if continued.
BORACAY IS LONG DEAD!
YES the real land grabbers are the tax declaration land owners!
BORACAY should be managed by the DOT... fire the selfish Mayor!
The move against Defensor is led by no less than Malay Mayor Ciceron Cawaling, who presided over a three-hour rally at the town plaza in Balahag to denounce the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) plan. Cawaling, himself, is an owner of a small Boracay property which he inherited from his grandparents. BFI incoming chairman Dr. Orlando Sacay claimed to have gathered some 3,000 signatures from residents of the island seeking the deferment of Defensor’s confirmation by the Commission on Appointments.But Defensor did not take things sitting down. He charged that Sacay owns the Waling-Waling Hotel which "stands only 15 steps from the shoreline, a clear violation of easement rules."
Environment Sec. Michael Defensor, the government’s point man in the Boracay land dispute that has now reached the Supreme Court, has become a hated figure in this island of 13,000 people.
"We don’t know what will happen but people will fight through lawful means. This is land we’re talking about. People will hang onto this. They are not letting anybody take it away," says Malay Mayor Ciceron Cawaling, whose jurisdiction covers the island in Aklan.Boracay residents have won a ruling from the appellate court, saying that they are entitled to own land on the island.
Mike Defensor has appealed the case to the Supreme Court and won the case!
SO CAWALING SHOULD SHUT THE HELL UP...
KURAKOT MAYOR!
CAWALING is corrupt!
PERIOD....
Now I am really saddened for the loss of yet another treasure in Philippine Soil. What took nature quite a considerable time to present, men took only a few decades to destroy.
It is just so sad that the pristine, undiscovered, undeveloped memory of Boracay I've seen in my youth will forever be just that, a memory.
Another case of development gone awry. Fueled by greed, carelessness, and indifference.
So what's next on the line up to be destroyed? The numerous scattered islands of Palawan? The now slowly being noticed Pagudpud? Oh... Let Nograles' proposal to amend the constitution pass and it will hasten the destruction of our remaining resources. Had the situation in Mindanao be that peaceful, I'm sure they would have raped the beaches there long ago. The beauty of Batanes would have been also lost had it not been "protected" naturally from outsiders by frequent typhoons. TSK TSK TSK.
how did you hear about the island sinking?
any studies?
raped by progress
tol,
naglalaway lang ang mga arroyo na makakuha ng piece of boracay. they are insatiable. wouldnt trust gma's boytoy to do the job.
Dear GabbyD
Victorina will never publish any article without solid evidence..." BORACAY is in the threat of losing its sands to erosion, or worse, being submerged underwater, should residents and local officials fail to address widespread environmental degradation in the area, a MARINE SCIENTIST with the UNESCO said.
"BORACAY is dying a slow death at the moment. That is erosion, it is like the sea is eating up . If it continues unabated, maybe [the island] will be submerged, or the white sand is gone or reduced... the signs are there. Even for now, even if it's isolated but obvious, give it time where nothing substantial will be done, they will lose their sand," said Dr. Miguel Fortes, head of the UNESCO's National Committee on Marine Science (NCMS).
The erosion is happening particularly at Diniwid, a 200-meter long stretch of beach in the Southern part of the island, known for its powdery white sand. Fortes said he was astonished when he saw the drastic change in the sands within two years since his last visit in 2007.
Fortes had been commissioned by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) in Boracay to conduct a study on the erosions, after local officals were alarmed by the phenomenon.
In a letter dated February 25, PCCI-Boracay Vice President Peter Brugger had sought the help of concerned government agencies like the Department of Tourism and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in addressing the issue.
Brugger said that many establishments in the northern part of Diniwid beach violated building laws and ordinances such as having no building or business permits, building permanent structures on marine reserve or no build zones and the set back from the tide mark.
"These violations aggravate the erosion, which changes the once attractive Diniwid beach," Brugger said in the letter.
Fortes explained that the erosion is occurring too rapidly, not because of overcrowding, but mainly because resorts and locals have built "environmentally unfriendly" structures like sea walls, which have blocked the natural flow of the current that naturally replenishes the beach.
"Sand should only move in and out of the shore, in and out, and it does not move to other islands. They have modified [natural processes] by constructing something, water and air is hindered, changing wave patterns on the coast so that erosion becomes more dominant," he said.
Wind patterns determine tide patterns, which in turn, are affected by the topography of coast causing both accretion (the build-up of sand making the shoreline farther away) or erosion (the loss of sand which makes the shoreline closer and closer inland). Normally, there should be a balance between accretion and erosion processes, which would sustain the beach's natural slope.
Sea walls and other structures that block the currents, Fortes said, are in danger of crumbling because waves have a stronger and harsher backlash when they slam against a wall.
Sand erosions are happening too quickly in DINIWID also because of extensive damage to the area's coral reefs hastened by the twin forces of climate change and human disturbance, such as using the corals for boat anchoring which destroys the ecosystem.
He explained that coral reefs and seagrass act as buffers against wave impacts, but they have become less effective because of destruction, as well as sea level rise caused by climate change. He added that powdery white sand comes from coral reef organisms called "foraminiferans" but they can no longer replenish the coast because they have also been destroyed.
Fortes also noted that sewage waste from island resorts and local houses have been seeping under the sand, and may cause further erosion if it is acidic. "When we (NCMS) went to Boracay, I was surprised because when I dug my arm into the sand, at about two feet under it, I felt liquid. When I looked at it, it was black and it was smelly. How can tourists stand that if some areas have stinky sand?" he said.
Boracay town reportedly receives about P30 million a year, mostly from tourism, and they even charge every visitor an environmental fee of P50.
In an NCMS workshop, attended by local government officials and the Boracay Foundation Inc., a local organization composed of leading establishments on the island, the committee outlined several options for the community in addressing the problem like mangrove reforestation, seagrass transplantation, and coral reef enhancement.
Hard engineering solutions include building "jackstone type" artificial reefs that would allow coral reefs to regenerate. Some coral varieties can grow fast within five years but others take longer.
"If you're talking about [the] reef system, give it at least 10 or 15 years if destructive practices don't continue. That ecosystem was there for so many years but it can be destroyed in just a minute, an hour. But it takes at least double the time for it to recover," Fortes said."
AMIEL
Boracay town reportedly receives about P30 million a year, mostly from tourism, and they even charge every visitor an environmental fee of P50...
THE ENVIRONMENTAL FEE charged to each tourist should be checked by the COA!
Cawaling's corrution resulted in
BORACAY's dying a slow death ... He should be fed to the sharks in deep sea!
THE LOCALS of BORACAY are GREEDY...
PERIOD!
The DENR on May 15, 2008 filed anti-graft and corruption charges against Cawaling before the Office of the Ombudsman for failing to control the construction in Boracay Island! Ikulong na yan!
Durano: sue Cawaling
Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano added his support to plans by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to sue Mayor Ciceron Cawaling of Malay, Aklan, the town where Boracay is located.
“I support intervention coming from all the other departments to help us defend the island from further deterioration,” said Durano.
Durano said he does not know the exact violation that Environment Secretary Joselito “Lito” Atienza has taken Cawaling to task for.
“But definitely, for us to defend the island from further deterioration, there has to be adjustment on the land use on the island,” said Durano.
He said the Department of Tourism (DOT) would support the filing of the case against Cawaling and other measures to encourage the local government to be more aggressive in protecting the island from congestion, pollution and other problems that come with overdevelopment.
BOYCOTT THESE HOTELS: Ambassador Hotel in Paradise Resort, Crown Regency Hotel, Boracay Regency Lagoon, BTR Hotel, KCI Ariham, Crown Regency Prince Hotel, Teodora Biggiogero KCI, Erus Suite Hotel, and Salic B. Ibrahim Hotel.
Mayor Ciceron Cawaling who has been slammed for alleged graft and corruption as well as abuse of authority. We had heard about Atienza’s warning to Cawaling long before, about stopping constructions in the island resort, but obviously, Cawaling has been ignoring US!
Cawaling should go to jail...asap!
Office of the Ombudsman has recommended the filing of administrative and criminal charges against the mayor of Malay town in Aklan and a Cebu-based property developer for the construction of a hotel on an alleged protected area on Boracay Island.It also recommended the filing of charges against officials of the Cebu-based J. King and Sons Company, Inc. including Jesus King, Barbara King, Richard King, John King and Rafael King.The municipal officials and the property developer are facing charges of violating Republic Act 3019 and Presidential Decree No. 705 (Forestry Code).
REGENCY HOTEL IS SITTING ON A WET LAND!
May 1996
PDI ran a story on the North Luzon Expressway Rehab contract awarded to the Lopez-owned Benpres Corporation that the House of Representatives was investigating because of allegations that its members had been bribed by the Lopez group through then Rep. Albertito Lopez. The loudest voice came from neophyte congressman Mike Defensor, a member of the committee on public works and highways, who seemed determined to clean up the House. PDI backed Defensor in his lonely struggle in the wilderness of congressional corruption. But when it came time to subpoena Eugenio Lopez III, the ABS-CBN chair, Defensor lost his voice and his nerve. The probe fizzled out.
PDI was the only paper that gave the story page-one treatment for as long as it was news, despite retaliatory threats and pressure from ABS-CBN. In a subsequent news story, Jay Sonza, who had just quit the giant network, disclosed that his instructions from the network's top management had been to destroy the Inquirer.
Boracay is a dirty filthy dump.
swapang yang mga King na taga Cebu. Maraming negosyante sa Cebu na swapang, kagaya ng floating coffins ng sulpicio
agree with Davao4e... The Cebuanos have desroyed their island so they destroy their neighbors!
This is sad news. The beach we all love is deteriorating slowly but surely (as I understand).
Is it already too late to save it?
************************
Btw, please keep it up with issues of REAL importance. I've been feeling that DV has gone into "PEP mode" way too much as of late. I began to miss the days when Amiel was doing all the writing. With 2010 just around the corner, I hope that DV would take a bolder stand against bigger fish and really become an instrument for change. Lets leave the "cheap" talk to Sunday afternoon mainstream tv (when most of the enlightened aren't watching). Suggestion lang po! Peace!!!
KAILAN NIYO PO IPOPOST UNG ABOUT KAY TED FAILON ISSUE? EXCITED NA PO AKONG MABASA ANG MATALINO NIYONG POINTS OF VIEW. MARAMING SALAMAT PO AND MORE POWER!
Trixie,
When you were a commissioner at the the culture commission, did you get to study the claims the the island belongs to the natives - the Atis.
if it is true, then it should be declared an ancestral domain.
Trixie,
When you were a commissioner at the the culture commission, did you get to study the claims the the island belongs to the natives - the Atis.
if it is true, then it should be declared an ancestral domain.
Trixie,
When you were a commissioner at the the culture commission, did you get to study the claims the the island belongs to the natives - the Atis.
if it is true, then it should be declared an ancestral domain.
Trixie,
When you were a commissioner at the the culture commission, did you get to study the claims the the island belongs to the natives - the Atis.
if it is true, then it should be declared an ancestral domain.
Dear Rain,
certain parts of Malay Island were inhabited by the atis but not the tracks of land near the shoreline... it was an ilonggo family who claimed huge tracks of Boracay land.
But I'm certain that the Philippine shorelines is owned by the Republic of the Philippines and not Mayor Cawaing!
james
Cawaling should resign!
Rain says I go out with my Victorina friends, and thus includes our publisher who will never travel economy, how much more take a road trip...
So din Gucci Gang pala kayo!
hmmmmmn....
CAWALING IS EVIL!
In 1997, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources issued a report that revealed the high levels of coliform in the waters off Boracay.
That report was widely reported in the newspapers and prompted a flurry of tourist cancellations. This forced then President Ramos to create a multi-agency task force to look into the problem and offer solutions.
World-famous powdery white sand beaches of Boracay Island Nearly six years later, the problem remains.
The exact level of contamination are difficult to determine, however, as that there has been no testing for coliform on the island since 1998. In addition, resort and tourism development continues, defying a master plan that put restraints on such development.
This is not surprising, considering that the local officials that have ruled Boracay, including the current mayor and vice mayor, are resort owners themselves.
As this report states, overdevelopment and poor governance are at the root of the island's woes. Unless something is done soon, Boracay will become a wasteland. Already, resort owners are resisting paying higher amounts for sewerage disposal and other changes that will lead to better management of Boracay's natural resources.
They are looking at short-term profits rather than the long-term sustainability of an island that is famous around the world for its long stretch of powdery white sand beach.
Anon says:
Rain says I go out with my Victorina friends, and thus includes our publisher who will never travel economy, how much more take a road trip...
So din Gucci Gang pala kayo!
hmmmmmn....
_____________
Paano naman napasok ang Gucci Gang sa usaping island sinking and mismanagement of natural resources?
i don't understand why people would like to go to boracay to take a vacation! it's so filthy, overly commercialized where establishments are located just a stone's throw away from the shoreline and flooded by people who believe that it's the place to see and be seen. yuckkkk!
the result of too much greediness!
SkitZ
THIS IS THE DOING OF REGENCY HOTEL ... PCCI-Boracay Vice President Peter Brugger had sought the help of concerned government agencies like the Department of Tourism and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in addressing the issue. Brugger said that many establishments in the northern part of Diniwid beach violated building laws and ordinances such as having no building or business permits, building permanent structures on marine reserve or no build zones and the set back from the tide mark.
the real condition of Boracay is in its waters,I dived there last year: tons of plastics and garbage underwater.
also, check the big pipes of ShangriLa emptying into the sea. not to mention the polluted smelly creek near Red Coconut that flows from inland to the beach. DISGUSTING!I can just imagine the so-called paradise will be lost in the future.
The more I read this, the more I get sad about the condition, but you guys need to be commended for the write up! Good work!
hello po,
mag sulat na po kayo about the Ted Failon incident kasi nakakatakot ang mga pulis natin. Pwede palang arestuhin ng walang warrant kahit hindi naman caught in the act. Talagang parang mga incompetent at abusado ang mga pulis natin, kailangan po nila ng refresher course about law, knowledge, skills and attitude. Dapat pong matakot tayong lahat mayaman, mahirap or politiko. kasi pag you are caught up to that unfortunate event, ang mga pulis grabeng umabuso. Wala silang kontrol sa sarili, nakakatakot po talaga dito sa bansa natin..... sana ampunin na tayong lahat nina Brangelina.
Rain,
It is ancestral domain already reconized as such by the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples and there is the problem. Despite the validity of the claims of the Atis, they have been relegated to a small landlocked area and told to wait while the government sorts out the problem.
In response, however, the Office of the President through the Bureau of Lands has nullified all claims on the land -- including claims made by resort owners, and unfortunately including the ancestral domain claims of the Atis.
Where that stands now... well, only Malacanang can tell.
Anonymous,
You read our minds. Check out the next article.
Boracay is just one of the many islands in the tropics that is sinking (maybe).....we are now experiencing the effect of global warming...water is rising and eaten at least 2 meters of our beach in Boracay..
What did the stakeholders do???
Boracay Foundation Inc (BFI-resorts, business establishments, airlines, etc)and Boracay Windsport Association (windsurfers and kiteboarders) have started their project since 2007 on replanting of corals to protect the reefs surrounding Boracay..BFI created a committee called BORACAY FOREVER (protecting our shores)
They hired DR Goreau, a scientist from UN to do a study on Boracay waters (pollution and reefs).. 20 pages of documentation about Boracay waters were submitted and all the recommendations on how to clean up the island septic tank in Bulabog beach, and artificial reef using his BIOROCk technology...www.biorock.org
The first project was in Iligiligan, but due to poor supply of electricity the growth was very slow...We transferred it to Baling hai now on its 2nd month...Anybody can visit the site and see what is happening down there..this is our hope to protect our beaches...we can prtect our beach if we can rebuild our reefs by planting more corals using this technology...we plan to do 2 more this year (calling all friends of Boracay to support our project by donating to Boracay Forever (check your resort counter for a donation can of Boracay Forever)
Now, what was the use of DENR on the island ????NOTHING!!!!!! We can only complain and they will do nothing except press release (moratorium) and file a case gainst Mayor Cawaling (where is it??only blah blah blah!), and when we asked for land title they tols us the land is not our but belong to the government...They also conive with our Congressman in the planned Bulabog highway (they will build a concrete seawall - aka band aid to internal hemorrage- and kill our kitesurfers when they get dragged to the beach by some gusty winds..and they will be run over by tricycles and delivery trucks!!)
They did not could not stop the Elizalde's when they built D'Mall phase 4 on top of wetland,(FYI, D'Mall also blocked the natural waterway towards Red coconut when they built the first D'Mall) same with portion of Boracay Regency, Seraph, Boracay Holiday, The notorious Richard King's Crown Regency (under construction) on top of the Laguna wet land , and of course the very nice resort owned by cris aquino (and MANNY PACQUIAO)in diniwid...Why did Diniwid beach disappeared???? ask DENR and Manny pacquiao!!!!!!!
Mr Choi Cojuangco sliced the whole mountain at the end of the white beach (south)last year...did they even manage to lift a finger and stop him???NOOOOOOOO!!!!!
Locals tried to help them by reporting activities that concerns the destruction of our environment, but they sometimes would end up the target of the violators anger...why??? because because they have paid men in the DENR reporting to them the reporters (concern citizens) even the name...one friend of mine had to disappear for a few weeks after she reported Kings acitivity in the wetland at Laguna...DENR is infiltrated by personnels for sale...what else is NEW???
DENR is USELESS!!! They did not do what they are suppose to do to preserve Boracay since the beginning..and why blame others,,,they should blame themselves fr their failure to save the ecology of Boracay...
What else??? The BWSS (PTA run water and sewarage server) was polluting Bulabog beach by flushing out raw sewage (treatment system was never working effciently since the beginning) They can not oblige or penalize the PTA-BWSS for non compliance to the DENR ECC...soon the bay will die with the addition of 3 drainage outfall with illegal connection of sinks, toilets and God knows what )))also in Bulabog beach....
DENR past and present Secretaries should be buried alive inside the sewerage treatment plant...
But let us stop complaining and start working in saving our belover island of Boracay, not Bora (slogan of my favorite Boracay girl)
Yep tama yung nakalagay sa flag ng mga tao.. GOD GAVE THIS ISLAND. Hindi dpat tinatanggalan ng karapatan ang mga hayop, puno, isda, tao ang mga naninirahan dito.
Tanya Gemarin
I hope you don't mind. Adding a link to your post on my blog.