HE MAIN problem in Boracay Island, and in many other parts of the country, is the wanton disregard for our environmental laws, especially the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act and the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act. These laws have been enacted more than a decade ago but weak enforcement and non-compliance have prevailed.
Boracay Island is a leading destination for both local and foreign tourists. But the solid waste problem, the lack of sewerage and septage systems, the structures that disregard the 25 plus 5 meters shoreline easement, and the damage of wetlands due to encroachment by business establishments and illegal settlers — all of these have contributed to the degradation of the island.
If the government will not do anything about it, Boracay will not only be a cesspool as described by the President, but would probably become a wasteland. The same will also happen in other eco-tourism areas in the country unless we start living sustainably.
After years, decades and centuries of finding ways to make use of the Earth’s resources for the convenience of humanity, we did not realize that we have also made the Earth a convenient place to die of hunger, pollution, disasters and climate change – all because of unsustainable practices, all because of the mindset that we can use and abuse the resources of this planet all we want.
Environmentalist and senator Loren Legarda posed this question: “Is the state of our environment defined by our behavior? Or is our behavior defined by our environment?” The environmental problems of Boracay today are nature’s way of reminding us of the repercussions of the savage abuse of our natural environment. Our individual and collective decisions and actions are keys to either our destruction or survival.