Environment officials worried over Boracay’s dev’t capacity

[GLT]

Environment officials worried over Boracay’s dev’t capacity

By Francis Allan L. Angelo, BusinessWorld | 07/21/2009 12:50 AM



ILOILO CITY — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources
(DENR) is taking a closer look at the capacity of Boracay Island to
host further development in the next three years.

Leo Van Juguan, director of DENR’s Mines and Geosciences Bureau in
Western Visayas, said his office has asked the central office to again
study the absorptive capacity of the island.

Ricarte Javelosa, MGB supervising geologist, said there is a need to
assess the environmental and ecological situation of the island,
particularly its capability to host more tourists and structures.

"The department is much worried of the tourism carrying capacity of
this island resort," Mr. Javelosa said.

A DENR study on the "Tourism Carrying Capacity of Boracay Island,"
conducted in May last year, said the island was on the brink of
exceeding its carrying capacity. Among others, that study showed that
Boracay has a maximum capacity of 10,116.27 swimmers, 16,703.40
sunbathers and 14,674 diners along coconut groves.

The DENR study said that while there is still room for more
improvements on the island, these capacity thresholds could be reached
in the next two to three years.

Department of Tourism (DoT) data from 2007 to 2008 showed that Boracay
hosts an average of 9,361 visitors per day.

The DoT in Western Visayas reported in the first quarter that 337,666
tourists arrived in Boracay, 5.16% more than the 321,094 in the same
period in 2008.

DENR Undersecretary Manuel Gerochi said ensuring sustainable
development has become imperative with more tourists flocking to the
island.

"With this study, it is evident that we cannot go on our ‘business-as-
usual’ attitude; we have to do something to address all these
findings," Mr. Gerochi said.

Mr. Gerochi said Boracay Island is also vulnerable to any rise in sea
level in the long term due to climate change. "Here in Boracay, a
major rise in sea level will also take away the world’s finest beach,
without which most tourists would probably stop coming, with terrible
consequences to the local economy."

"Beautifying beach resorts will therefore be an expensive exercise in
futility if, not so many years down the road, we will lose them to the
seas," he added.

In a study commissioned by the Canadian Urban Institute and the
Department of Tourism, William Trousdale said the present governance
systems in Boracay are incapable of meeting future challenges. "A
strict moratorium on any future growth in Boracay should be seriously
considered, at the very least until an effective governance regime is
instituted on the island. Effective governance is essential, including
fair implementation and enforcement of policies and laws," Mr.
Trousdale said.

DENR has asked resort owners and visitors in Boracay to help reduce
carbon emissions by cutting down the use of fossil fuels, particularly
in motor vehicles, kitchens and camp fires. The department also
suggested planting of trees to serve as carbon capture, aside from
providing a habitat to animals endemic to the island.
as of 07/21/2009 12:50 AM