ILOILO City – The proposed Boracay Island Development Authority (BIDA) would “violate the policy of devolution and decentralization” and thus should be opposed, according to Bayan Muna representative and House Minority Deputy Leader Carlos Isagani Zarate.
The House of Representatives had approved on second reading House Bill 9826, or the proposed BIDA Act, a priority legislation of President Rodrigo Duterte.
BIDA would be a government-owned and controlled corporation that would manage, develop, operate, preserve, and rehabilitate Boracay Island and surrounding islets including Barangay Caticlan, which would be called the Boracay Island Development Zone.
According to Zarate in yesterday’s virtual discussion with various stakeholders, BIDA would “encroach upon and divest” the local government of Malay, Aklan its “constitutionally guaranteed local autonomy and law-mandated powers and functions, rights and prerogatives (under the Local Government Code of 1991).”
Boracay is under the jurisdiction of Malay.
Aside from Boracay, BIDA’s authority also covers Barangay Caticlan in mainland Malay that hosts jetty port services and the Caticlan Airport, the gateways to the island.
To justify the BIDA bill, according to Zarate, the national government claims that, having invested in the rehabilitation of Boracay, they could no longer entrust the island’s management to Malay or to the provincial government of Aklan.
He believes this is deception intended to ensure the national government’s full control over the island so that it can continue favored cronies.
Zarate theorized that this was the intent of Boracay’s closure and rehabilitation all along – the entry of big capitalists and expansion of giant resorts and businesses in the island.
Vast areas that used to be the homes to residents and endangered species are to be converted into private areas that would cater exclusively to rich clientele, he warned.
BIDA AND CASINO
Zarate said the chain of events was all scripted – from the closure of Boracay, to the creation of the Boracay Inter-Agency Task Force, and the creation of the Boracay Coordinating Council which turned into the BIDA bill.
“Seemingly, kumpleto na ang closure, tapos there is now a bill it is already approved on second reading, ang kulang na lang formality for the third reading. President Duterte already lifted the operation of casino in Boracay. Previously, the Department of Tourism said they will oppose but now they are changing their tune… Boracay will now again be at the center of tourism promotion including gambling… You cannot dichotomize or separate mo ina when there is already casinos – you will promote Boracay even more because ang ila gusto to attract tourists,” Zarate said.
He added that the statement of the President in 2018 specifically regarding the banning of casinos in the island was another “jetski” statement.
“The picture is now complete – lifted na ang ban sa casino sa Boracay so it’s already out of the bag ang real purpose why in 2018 ngaa gin-close gid ang Boracay,” Zarate said.
He said the President is only using the COVID-19 pandemic as reason for allowing casinos to operate in the island.
“Pero during our budget deliberation at tuloy-tuloy naman mga investigation, nakita natin marami pang pera ng mga mamamayan, ng ating bansa na hindi lang talaga ginamit ng maayos,” he added.
Zarate appealed for a sustained opposition to BIDA.
“Kailangan ang pagpapalakas ng kilusan ng mamamayan na labanan ito dahil ‘yun naman ang pangunahing pwersa para mabasura ang ganitong anti-people policy,” said Zarate.
He suggested that the BIDA bill be turned into an election issue “dahil kailangan malaman natin ano ang tindig ng mga political leaders sa usapin na ‘yan.”
Zarate suspected that the lifting of the casino ban could be used as a fundraiser by the candidate of the administration.
“This is a fund generation to finance whoever will be the candidate of Malacañang. Can you imagine payagan mo ‘yang mga casino dyan? Siempre kon sino ang kandidato ng Malacañang potentially doon susuportahan ng mga casino operators,” Zarate said./PN