The Boracay Foundation Incorporated, a major business organization in the Island, released an official statement expressing thier most important concerns and feedback regarding the rehabilitation of the Island. This statement was being read in the Senate Committee Hearing this August 20. Here is the full text:Good morning to the Honorable Senators, department secretaries, officials, and the members of the joint committee. The Boracay Foundation Incorporated or BFI would like to express its sincerest appreciation for giving us a chance to air our concerns and feedback regarding the ongoing rehabilitation and closure of the island.
I would just like to raise the four most important concerns and feedback regarding the ongoing rehabilitation that we hope could be addressed immediately given that we only have around two months left before re-opening:
1) REQUEST FOR THE EXTENSION OF THE ONE-STOP SHOP IN BORACAY
We are concerned regarding the cessation of operations of the One Stop Shop by August 25 giving us just one more week within which to process our requirements on the island. Once they cease to operate, all transactions will be conducted in Iloilo, 5 hours away on a normal day, but given the roadwork being done over a significant portion of the road to Kalibo, travel time would be extended to 6 to 7 hours. Transacting in Iloilo is an additional cost physically and financially (transportation, food, and lodging) that businessmen simply cannot manage at this point.
We have communicated to the Honorable DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu our request for an extension of the one stop shop on the Island to facilitate the ease of compliance of establishments and businesses with the necessary requirements to be able to open on October 26.
Consistent with the Ease of Doing Business Law of President Duterte, it is only fitting that agencies in charge bring the services of the government closer to the people. Providing easy access to the inter-agency members will not only help the stakeholders but will also help minimize the risks of corruption as the operations are very transparent.
We all want to comply, but please help support these efforts. As such we HUMBLY REQUEST THAT THE ONE STOP SHOP IN CITYMALL BORACAY BE EXTENDED UNTIL OCTOBER IF POSSIBLE. . We look forward to hearing your positive response to this request.
2. THERE IS CONFUSION AND UNCERTAINTY DUE TO VARYING PRONOUNCEMENTS MADE ABOUT STPS.
Several DENR Memos have been released regarding the mandatory construction of STPs, which appear to be contradictory to the (1) Clean Water Act, (2) the Provincial Water Utilities Act, (3) the EO 53 signed by PRRD, and (4) the Municipal Ordinance 307, where it is CLEARLY STATED THAT the burden of providing sewage treatment falls into the shoulders of the water provider OR THE GOVERNMENT. Constructing their own STPs for beachfront establishments pose an additional burden to stakeholders and compliance requirements that will again delay the upgrading and rehabilitation in an already struggling community.
Unfortunately, many are afraid to speak up and tell you about the realities on the ground. But we cannot sit idly by and thus take the responsibility to speak for our stakeholders.
Constructing an STP is not cheap, we believe upwards of 2M. But money is not the issue here, but the principle of following what is stated in the law—constructing an STP is also not rocket science. As mentioned, laws dictate that, if not the government, then this responsibility falls into the laps of the water providers.
Many are scared and we are compelled to tell this body that our STAKEHOLDERS FEEL THREATENED when we hear the words “NO STP, NO COMPLIANCE – NO COMPLIANCE, NO OPENING”.
In more than one occasion and in various forums, whenever questions are raised, and we do not receive a proper answer but instead are told to just follow if we really want to open. We can’t help but feel that it is a form of a threat? Aren’t we entitled to clarification and consultation?
However, our PUBLIC INQUIRIES appear to be a moot exercise as agreements reached during the discussion between agencies and stakeholders do not seem to be considered when new set of memos are released.
Initially on a July 6 stakeholders’ meeting with DENR in Boracay, we were told that access to lateral lines would already suffice as per the DENR officials– and then two days after – the very same officials release memos inconsistent with what was agreed on. Isn’t it by consulting effectively, that we improve both the making of policy and its implementation? Consulting with us Stakeholders- the ones who are most affected is a very basic principle of good practice, and a common courtesy.
We have yet to hear comprehensive guidelines in the STP memo - including notably the manner of conveyance, as well as the pre-treatment facilities for treated water.
3. WHY THE BLANKET CANCELLATION OF THE ECCs?
Three months prior to the reopening, DENR also suspended the environmental compliance certificates (ECCs) of all business establishments on the island pending their review of compliance with environmental laws. Isn’t it the mandate and responsibility of the one issuing the permits and licenses to monitor compliance? Please correct us if we are wrong but the ECCs were supposed to be monitored and reviewed periodically is it not? If the issuing body had strictly monitored compliance throughout the years, why then should EVERYONE even those who are compliant be penalized. Why should EVERYONE suffer at the expense of those who failed to do their job properly?
We hope this body can look into these inconsistencies in guidelines that are brutally affecting the community during this rehabilitation and provide us a clearer picture of what to do and what to expect.
4. THE SORRY STATE OF OUR MAIN ROAD
While we understand that the main road should be closed for the repair works to move continuously, our community cannot help but ask “Will this road make it in time for the opening?
CNN in a recent report dated August 6, 2018, that the main road is now at 40% completion. We are wondering which portion they are referring to. We agree that the Circumferential Road is definitely looking good, because of the DPWH’s hard work and Bulabog stakeholders who gave huge areas for the boulevard and the road.
This is in contrast to the main road, the main access to the island, which can only be described as similar to a war zone - muddy AND empty. Empty as we hardly see contractors on the main road, or maybe not to the extent that we expect to see given how close we are to the opening.
Open drains and manholes attracting mosquitoes have also led to an increase in the number of recorded cases of dengue on the island. The recent monsoon rains have also brought flooding increasing the risks of leptospirosis and other sickness. Clinics have also reported incidents of accidents involving severe cuts and bruises of people who fall on the exposed sidewalk canals.
It is quite frustrating because despite its complete closure, it appears that only the water utility companies are continuously laying out pipes.
Looking at the island’s main road- it does not look encouraging, we are apprehensive if we will be able to meet the deadline. Again, these issues could have been avoided if proper planning was made and if a systematized communication plan was in place at the onset of the rehabilitation. But a failure to deliver on its commitment to finish within 6 months, we hope, should not be used by government as a reason to extend the closure. I think we all agree that we have already suffered enough.
We call on the agencies to urgently finalize systems, policies, guidelines, etc prior to the re-opening for people to prepare, and for efficient procedures put into place. Without these actions to organize systems regarding transportation, traffic, guidelines on watersports, vehicles, vendors, etc in place – Boracay will eventually return to the same state it was in prior to closure. With government in the lead to ensure compliance, the Boracay Foundation is willing to assist in any way it can to ensure success.
In several interviews, the government agencies have reported that Boracay will be totally different once it opens. We share the same hope and dream of a better Boracay – one that is organized, one that is compliant, and definitely one that does not look like a battlefield that somehow it is right now – instead it should be what is meant to be - a paradise that we can all be proud of.##
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