BORACAY – Residents affected by demolition activities here have been appealing to the government to find a permanent relocation site for them.
At least 34 families whose structures were within the 25+5 meters beach easement in sitios Tulubhan, Tambisaan and Tambisaan in Barangay Manocmanoc held a dialogue with the Boracay Inter-Agency Task Force (BIATF) on Dec. 20.
Environment secretary Roy Cimatu and Jane Javellana, Office of the President consultant for Western Visayas concerns, also discussed issues and concerns with the officers of the Natives of Boracay and Business Stakeholders, Inc. (NABBSI).
Boracay Inter-Agency Rehabilitation Management Group general manager Natividad Berlandino told Malay, Aklan acting mayor Frolibar Bautista to defer the implementation of demolition orders issued on Nov. 16, 2021 until such time that electrical and water connections in the temporary relocation sites are done.
Natividad also asked the local government of Malay which has jurisdiction over Boracay to waive the requirements for building and occupancy permits for service facilities for new connections.
NABBSI believes Boracay’s rehabilitation should not be done at the expense of these residents, especially during the coronavirus pandemic.
Cris Cahilig, vice president of NABBSI, said they agreed in a coordination meeting with BIATF on Sept. 28, 2021 that there would be no demolition unless the water and electricity lines of affected households were facilitated.
But on Nov. 26, 2021 Bautista issued notices of demolition giving residents 10 days to initiate immediate self-demolition of their structures.
“We’ve been fighting these for months. We appealed to them for proper relocation site here in Boracay for residents affected by the demolition,” she added in an ANC interview.
According to Cahili, most of the affected were fishermen or workers in Boracay.
On Nov. 17, 2021, Sen. Riza Hontiveros filed a resolution seeking to investigate the grievances of affected households on the alleged forced demolition and warrantless arrests in Boracay Island.
“There were reports of forced evictions of land occupants allegedly without just compensation, with some families ordered to self-demolish despite the absence of any discussion on resettlement sites,” Hontiveros stressed./PN
