PGMA orders DOT chief to take administrative control of Boracay
President Macagapal-Arroyo has directed Tourism Secretary Joseph “Ace” Durano to take administrative control over Boracay Island as chair of the Philippine Tourism Authority (PTA) amid growing concerns over the unregulated development of the world famous resort.
The President issued Executive Order 706 dated January 18, 2008 and released last week, mandating the Tourism Secretary to exercise the functions of the PTA over Boracay as stipulated in earlier proclamations and orders.
In an apparent move to impose control over development projects on the island, the President directed the Mayor of Malay town where Boracay is located to suspend the issuance of building permits for any structure on the island unless approved by the Tourism Secretary and the governor of Aklan province as chair of the Aklan Provincial Tourism Development Task Force.
The order cited as bases Presidential Decree 564 issued on October 2, 1974 which vested the PTA with administrative control powers over tourism zones.
Boracay was among the island declared as tourism zones by Proclamation No. 1801 issued on November 10, 1978.
In EO 706, the President also directed the reorganization of the Inter-Agency Committee (IAC), which is tasked with enforcing laws and regulations “to prevent the proliferation of all illicit activities which would degrade the ecosystem and destroy the natural attractions of Boracay Island.”
The IAC will be headed by the Group Secretary of the Boracay Eminent Persons Group, a post now held by Deputy National Security Adviser Virtus Gil, who will have the rank of undersecretary of Tourism.
Malay Mayor Ciceron Cawaling has issued a six-month moratorium on the issuance of building permits effective from January 2, to July 2, 2008 after stakeholders and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources called for the suspension of new development projects until development and environmental plans are put in place.
The island is confronted with major concerns, among these the flooding of major areas of the island during continued rains, because of rampant violations of ordinances and environmental safeguards.
The DENR last week imposed a crack down on projects over natural wetlands and warned claimants to wetlands that their tax declarations would be canceled.