Not just yet, Boracay

IF ONE WERE to look at all indications and the latest statement from Secretary Cimatu of the Department of the Environment and Natural Resources or DENR, all systems go for the opening of Boracay to tourists on the scheduled date, Oct. 26.

In fact, the DENR was also saying that Boracay may be ready for an early soft opening possibly a month or two ahead of the scheduled opening.

Considering that it is the DENR making these statements and the problem in Boracay is mainly an environmental one, then most probably everything is just peachy in the ongoing rehabilitation and clean-up of Boracay.

But what if it’s not and all these statements coming from the DENR are just “brownie points.”

Perhaps it’s just another government project good only for launching, ribbon-cutting and “PowerPoint presentations” including all those speeches and photo-ops but no proper finishing.

After the usual full media coverage and hype come the Oct. 26 opening, what happens when the cameras are gone and reality sets in?

Have they established and observe strictly the island’s carrying capacity?

Are there sustainable practices and systems in place and will these be strictly adhered to after all the hype have died down and island life is back to the usual?

This early there are already concerns voiced by other government agencies involved in the Boracay rehabilitation, likewise for private sector voices.

And these voices are saying “not just yet, Boracay.”

Excerpts from the Aug. 13 issue of Panay News:

Waste still being dumped in Boracay waters – Año

The island is now more than three months into its half-year rehabilitation, but Interior department acting head Eduardo Año said some establishments still discharge waste into its seawaters.

Some establishments in this island resort still illegally discharge waste into the sea, according to Interior department officer-in-charge Eduardo Año.

Año said there are “indicators” that wastes are still being dumped in the island waters at night.

“Ang tagal nang sarado ng Boracay, bakit meron pa rin? Kasi hino-hoard nila ang waste
 Binubuga nila yan sa gabi unti-unti,” Año said last Friday.

Lack of a proper sewage system, illegal structures and abuse of the environment forced President Rodrigo Duterte to order the shutdown of the popular tourist destination known for its powdery white beaches on April 26, calling the waters around the island a “cesspool.”

Environment secretary Roy Cimatu on Aug. 9 said the sewage system in Boracay will be completed by September.

Cimatu stressed that the government is bent on meeting its deadline for reopening the island come Oct. 26.

Año said those who continue to pollute Boracay’s waters refuse to pay for sewerage system services.

He added there could still be illegal pipes buried deep in the island where wastes still pass through.

The government has hired divers to track the source of the wastes from the sea to the establishment, Año said.

Indeed there have been several sightings of sewage waters still seeping into “White Beach” and into the waters and the last sighting was just about a week ago. Take note people that there are no tourists in Boracay, just the locals and resorts owners and staff.

One can just imagine when the hordes of tourists come on Oct. 26 in a week’s time it’s all back to cesspool again.

And some more excerpts from the July 5 issue of The Philippine Star:

As the rehabilitation continues, the DENR has ordered that all hotels, resorts and similar establishments in stations 1 to 3 with 50 rooms and above should have their own sewage treatment plants (STPs).

While those with 49 rooms and below are instructed to have a clustered STP or they may opt to have their own STPs.

Establishments that fail to comply with the setting up of STPs will be issued notices of violation or cease and desist orders.

The total STP capacity of Boracay is only 12 million litres per day (MLD) but the wastewater to be treated is 15 MLD and more than 200 big establishments are still not connected to the sewer lines.

Again take note people, the total Sewage Treatment Plant or STP capacity of Boracay is 12 million liters per day while the wastewater to be treated is 15 million liters per day. So what happens to the three million liters of wastewaters? Just let it flow freely into the sea, I suppose.

And what about the more than 200 big establishments still not connected to the sewer lines, ignore them as if nothing is wrong?

And from a July 19 blog by Kathryn Jalbuena on EcompareMo.com:

Boracay Island Water Co. (BIWC), which ran the island’s only centralized sewerage system, has raised concerns over a memorandum issued on June 26. DENR Memorandum Circular No. 2018-06 decommissioned the sewer line in the White Beach area due to contamination of the waters.

The circular further mandates that establishments in the area with more than 50 rooms would need to set up their own sewage treatment plants. Those with fewer rooms would have an option to share facilities.

BIWC general manager Joseph Michael Santos expressed doubts that the resorts in the area would be able to have their own sewage treatment plants. He is appealing to Cimatu that 23 large establishments and 607 smaller ones be allowed to access the decommissioned sewer line for the time being.

He also stated that, if the island is reopened in October, BIWC would only be able to achieve a 30-percent connection with their sewage system as they still need to upgrade their old pipelines, lay new ones, and install new pumps.

And what about the nine wetlands in Boracay that have become informal settlers’ or more properly squatters’ communities including their shit? Have they been cleared and restored?

There are still a lot to be done in Boracay. At best the island probably needs another six months to one year and when it does open the authorities should schedule a regular break every year after the “high season” to close it down for a couple of months for a rest and rehabilitation.

Doing so makes Boracay sustainable and not divert into a cesspool. (brotherlouie16@gmail.com/PN)

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