KALIBO, AKlan – The Boracay Inter-Agency Task Force (BIATF) needs more work time to ensure the ecological sustainability of the world-class island through rehabilitation.
The government-made unit assigned for the job is considering a one-year extension to continue its work. The too urgent extension of BIATF operation is being studied by Malacañang for the long-term stability of the island as a premier tourist destination.
Natividad Bernandino, Boracay rehabilitation management group general manager said that the extension of the task force’s mandate will give the necessary push to speed up and resolve issues on environment, infrastructure, water quality, peace and order, sewerage and waste management of the world-class island.
“Nasa right track, on-time tayo sa mga projects sa isla at tuloy-tuloy ang compliance ng mga commercial establishments. Matatapos na rin itong road widening at drainage works sa Phase II,” she said.
Two years ago, the enhanced inter-agency task force was created by virtue of Executive Order No. 53 to “reverse the degradation of Boracay” Island,’ to strictly enforce national laws and local ordinances, and to implement and oversee policies.
Under the EO, the task force is deemed dissolved after two years from May 8, 2018 unless extended by President Duterte upon recommendation of the Cabinet. It is also up to him to give the local government units in Malay, Aklan the full autonomy to manage the island if the task force is no longer needed.
Natividad added that a medium term Boracay Action Plan (BAP) was already approved by President Rodrigo Duterte on July 2019 to sustain the rehabilitation efforts of the inter-agency task force.
“May mga proyekto sa Boracay Action Plan doon na kailangang matapos hanggang 2022
kahit wala na ang task force. Ngunit sa ngayon wala pa ang permanent
body, nag-uusap ang mga secretaries
to recommend ang extension nang task
force kay Pangulong Duterte,” she
stressed.
The president called the island before a ‘cesspool’ due to illegal discharge of
waste to the sea. Strained by mass tourism, the island was shut down on April
2018 to public in order to allow it to recover from the impact of tourism and
for the much-needed rehabilitation works.
The island was able to reopen six months later with new rules and regulations governing in the strict implementation of local ordinances.
Meanwhile,
Aklan 2nd District Rep. Teodorico Haresco Jr. filed a measure for the creation
of Boracay Island Council – a policy-making body that will oversee the management
and development of the island.
The bill seeks to regulate the establishments, operations, maintenance of
activities, infrastructures and utilities in the island by formulating
short-term and long-term strategies for social and infrastructural development and of environmental protection.(With a report from Akean Forum/PN)
