The Boracay Inter-Agency Task Force (BIATF) led by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is preparing to turn over the world-renowned Boracay Island to the local government unit (LGU) of Malay, Aklan.
Created by President Duterte through Executive Order (EO) 53 on May 8, 2018, the BIATF took over the rehabilitation and management of Boracay.
On September 14, 2021, the BIATF’s term was extended for the second time until June 30, 2022, through EO 147. By the end of June, coinciding with the expiration of its mandate over the island paradise, the BIATF is expected to turn over Boracay to LGU-Malay.
In a news statement, DENR Acting Secretary Jim O. Sampulna expressed hope that the municipal government of Malay will sustain the gains of the Boracay rehabilitation as the task force’s term ends next month.
“We are all excited to complete the rehabilitation of Boracay. But we cannot allow anyone to undo—immediately or otherwise—what we have accomplished, or to unlawfully stand in the way to the completion of our mission,” Sampulna said.
The DENR chief led the BIATF Principals’ Meeting on Boracay Island on April 29 in preparation for the turnover of Boracay Island to the Malay-LGU.
According to Sampulna, the dissolution of the task force does not mean the end of the rehabilitation of the world-famous resort island.
The various agencies and local government units, whether independent of each other or in partnership with one another, can continue the unfinished projects according to their respective priorities under the new administration.
The DENR chief believes the progress of the BIATF is “nothing short of remarkable, if not awesome,” particularly in the reduction of fecal coliform counts and the rehabilitation of wetlands.
“Our comfort, by then, is that we have done our part as members of this task force, and that, hopefully, we will be in a position to do more, or that our successors will be able to protect and build on our gains,” he said.
During the meeting on April 29, Boracay Inter-Agency Rehabilitation and Management Group (BIARMG) General Manager Martin Jose V. Despi bared that Boracay’s beach is Class SB-compliant or safe for swimming, as it is within the standard fecal coliform level of 100 most probable number per 100 milliliters (100 MPN/100 mL).
In April 2022, the lowest fecal coliform level was at less than 1.8 MPN/100mL in three of the 21 sampling stations around the island.
Wetlands recovered
AT the same meeting, Sampulna reported the successful rehabilitation of the Boracay wetlands.
He said of the nine wetlands in Boracay, ongoing wetland rehabilitation efforts include improvement of water quality, construction of a linear park and amphitheater in Wetland 4 (adopted by Aboitiz Property Ventures), the establishment of an arboretum in Wetland 3 (adopted by San Miguel Corporation), construction of a boardwalk and perimeter fencing in Wetland 6 (adopted by Boracay Tubi Systems, Inc.), perimeter fencing of unoccupied portions of Wetland 8 (adopted by JG Summit, Inc.) and clearing of illegal settlers and construction of a 230-meter concrete fence in Wetland 9.
All these activities are expected to be completed by the second quarter of 2022.
Image credits: Erwin Lim/Department of Tourism