ILOILO City – What is really the government’s plan for Boracay Island? Keep it as a top tourism site, make it a casino haven or as a land reform area?
Bayan Muna party-list’s Cong. Carlos Isagani Zarate criticized the “sore lack of a detailed and comprehensive action plan” for the top tourism destination island more than a month after it was closed on April 26.
“The government arbitrarily declared Boracay closed supposedly for rehabilitation but to this day it has no clear detailed action plan yet to address a lot of issues,” said Zarate.
Among the issues confronting the island and its people are on livelihood, the environment, land tenurial claims, and corporate greed.
“We care for the environment, the trees, the fishes, the turtles and other life forms, but we must first and foremost take care of the people, the poor masses especially. They should not be swept out in the rehabilitation and improvement of Boracay. The people are an integral part of the island,” stressed Zarate.
This “lack of direction” for the rehabilitation is raising tension and doubt among communities in Boracay, he lamented.
“This is outrageous given the severe impact of the closure, especially to the ordinary poor people whose survival depends on the island’s tourism industry. Closure without a plan is like putting the carriage ahead of the horse,” said Zarate.
The solon took part in a recent House Committee on Natural Resources onsite investigation on Boracay following its closure. Committee chairperson Cong. Arnel Ty headed the investigation, joined by vice chairpersons Allen Mangaoang and Jesus Sacdalan, and Deputy Minority Leader Cong. Roger Mercado.
During the hearing, Environment undersecretary Ernesto Adobo admitted that the inter-agency Task Force Boracay is yet to finalize an action plan for Boracay.
“The people are looking for answers,” said Zarate, noting that even without an action plan, physical and economic displacement of workers and residents and cases demolitions and evictions are already taking place.
The congressman agreed that Boracay needs rehabilitation. For many years, even decades, the urbanization of the island into a so-called world-renowned tourist destination has posed environmental concerns, he said.
“However, the people and the Boracay community are not the enemy,” said Zarate. “Indeed, they are part and parcel to the solution in keeping Boracay the prime tourist hub that it is.”
He noted the lack of representation from the affected local residents in the rehab task force.
“Boracay is not just an island but a community of workers, indigenous peoples, performers, vendors and other people living off the commerce in the island. Practically, there are no agricultural lands here. For most part, the island has been portioned off by big landowners as hotels, restaurants, and leisure parks,” said Zarate./PN
