By BOY RYAN B. ZABAL
BORACAY — A recent Supreme Court (SC) order will give way to the rehabilitation and expansion of Caticlan jetty port in Malay, Aklan this year.
In a resolution issued on June 3, the SC en banc lifted the temporary environmental protection order (TEPO) against the project.
The Aklan provincial government had filed a motion to lift the TEPO, which Boracay Foundation, Inc. (BFI) sought against it and two other entities.
Now that the TEPO has been lifted, the capitol can push through with the project that will involve 2.64 hectares along the coastline of Barangay Caticlan.
Lawyers of BFI received the two-page notice only last week.
Aside from the provincial government, BFI had named as respondents the Philippine Reclamation Authority and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources–Environmental Management Bureau Region 6.
The expansion of the port aims to accommodate the increasing number of Boracay-bound passengers. The reclaimed land will also be developed for commercial and tourism facilities.
Inadequate facilities at the port’s holding area results in congestion of passengers and long queues, the provincial government said.
The expansion project north of the port involves the construction of a terminal annex building, a two-storey building, a health and wellness center, access roads, and parking and lighting and water treatment sewerage system.
“Caticlan Super Marina Bonds” reaching P260 million will fund the development project along the Caticlan side, beside the port.
Earlier, the SC ordered the capitol to “cease and desist” from conducting reclamation activities in line with the Aklan Beach Zone Restoration and Protection Marina Development Project in June 2011, citing the project’s environmental impact.
Gov. Florencio Miraflores will meet with BFI officers and members this Saturday, July 19, at the Boracay Regency Resort to talk about projects and programs for Boracay. (Aklan Forum Journal/PN)
