BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL G. BAÑAGA
AKLAN – The Boracay MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences/conventions, exhibitions/events) Alliance, in cooperation with the Department of Tourism Region (DOT) Region 6 and the municipal government of Malay launched on Friday, Nov. 11, the “High 5 Boracay” cleanup drive which aims to keep the island’s beaches clean.
DOT-6 director Cristine Mansinares said the regional office is grateful to partner with the Boracay MICE Alliance and the local government of Malay in pushing for sustainability and inclusive tourism on Boracay Island.
Through the “High 5 Boracay” program, Mansinares said they are hoping that they can gain more support for their initiative from private sector partners and from tourists visiting the island to sustain the program and be part of their goal of making Boracay better than ever.
“Considering that Boracay Island is fragile, and considering that we are enjoying this gem in the Philippines, it is a shared reminder for all of us to take care of its environment,” the DOT-6 director added.
Boracay MICE Alliance chairwoman Cleofe Albiso, meanwhile, said aside from the beach cleanup drive, last Friday’s event also presented the Top 5 Finalists for the “High 5 Boracay” Jingle Making Contest.
They are:
* “Boracay” by Rhode Ryan Velez
* “High 5 Boracay” by Jamie Roy
* “Isla Boracay” by Daenniel Fernandez
* “Boracay Boracay Boracay” by Archie Dairocas
* “Clean Haven” by Simon Moses Almira
Albiso said the winning jingle will be used as the official program’s jingle, which will remind both the workers and tourists on the island to join a cleanup drive scheduled everyday at 5 p.m.
During last Friday’s cleanup drive, a total of 245 individuals, consisting of employees from various hotels and restaurant chains located in the island’s Station 1, participated. Even tourists volunteered to pick up any trash found along the beachfront.
Volunteers were given free gloves as well as sacks, which they could use to store any garbage they found./PN
