ILOILO City – There is no discussion yet whether the Boracay Inter-Agency Task Force (BIATF) will be revived under the new administration or not.
According to Department of Tourism (DOT) regional director Cristine Mansinares, the management of the remaining rehabilitation work in Boracay Island will be handled by the local government unit of Malay, Aklan and the provincial government of Aklan.
Boracay is under Malay.
“Based sa conversation namon with our new DOT Secretary (Christina) Frasco, nagapangayo s’ya sang background pa lang sang Boracay rehab,” said Mansinares.
The BIATF, chaired by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), was created to facilitate the rehabilitation and ensure the ecological sustainability of Boracay.
Boracay’s massive rehabilitation started in April 2018 right after former President Rodrigo Duterte ordered it temporarily closed until October of the same year.
Last June, the BIATF’s mandate ended. Mansinares noted that the provincial government of Aklan and the local government unit of Malay committed to sustain what the BIATF has started as far as rehabilitation of the island is concerned.
The regional director acknowledged the important role of taskforces especially in fast-tracking the job. But for now, the responsibility to continue the rehabilitation of Boracay Island is with the provincial government of Aklan and the local government unit of Malay.
The challenge now is for the local government to maintain cleanliness and sanitation, including the discipline of the people.
Malay mayor Frolibar Bautista said the people of his town will be faithful to the programs left behind by the task force
“We commit our responsibility…we will see to it that it is maintained and will continue to serve its purpose for the people of Malay,” he added.
Current DENR regional executive director Livino Duran recalled the challenges and even threats from erring Boracay establishments when the rehabilitation kicked off. There was initial resistance. Charges were filed in court, fines were collected.
Duran earlier said the rehabilitation of Boracay is the biggest environmental project of the Duterte administration in the region.
As of April 15, 89 percent of the 339 establishments encroaching on the more than 25-meter beach easement rule were demolished and are expected to be completed by end of this year’s second quarter.
All beaches, including the front and the Bolabog beaches, became Class SB-compliant except for the outfall in front of the Kingfisher area, which is populated by residential houses that are not connected to the sewer network. (With a report from the Philippine News Agency/PN)
