STAKEHOLDERS in the world-famous Boracay Island have launched the “Save the Climate, Save Boracay” project, an initiative that will attempt to make Boracay a climate-friendly destination through the implementation of energy-efficient measures among resorts, restaurants, bars and other establishments on the island.

With the launching of the project, the island joins Bali in an ongoing Greenpeace initiative to enlist top island destinations in Southeast Asia to decrease their carbon footprint and to promote awareness of climate change.

Von Hernandez, executive director of Greenpeace Southeast Asia, said Boracay, known for its pristine waters and white-sand beaches, can become a model of a climate-friendly destination for many other tourist destinations in Asia and around the world.

“We are pleased that many resorts here are already implementing various energy-saving measures which, with a little more assistance and encouragement, could be heavily replicated in all the establishments in Boracay. Climate change poses real and huge risks to the tourism industry and the people who depend on the viability of this sector for their livelihood,” Hernandez said.

Hernandez sailed to Boracay along with the crew and volunteers onboard the Greenpeace flagship Rainbow Warrior.

The Philippines is an archipelago of approximately 7,100 islands, many of which are vulnerable to sea-level rise and extreme weather events caused by climate change.  

A Greenpeace research in 2007 showed that sea-level rise  due to climate change can cause the inundation of 700 million square  kilometers of coastal areas throughout the country, including the island  of Boracay, as well as the low-lying areas of Sulu, Camarines Sur, Palawan  and Zamboanga, among others.

To fight climate change, Greenpeace campaigns for an energy revolution, which envisions that by 2050, emissions from the power sector can be effectively reduced by 50 percent following a massive uptake of renewable energy and the implementation of energy efficiency measures.  Drastic emission cuts are required to keep global mean temperature rise below 2 Celsius degrees in order to avoid the catastrophic impacts of climate change.

“Save the Climate, Save Boracay” project is a partnership between Greenpeace, the municipality of Malay, the Department of Tourism, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Boracay Foundation Inc., Boracay Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Mother Earth Foundation.

The project is based on a five-point manifesto signed by all stakeholders and which will require the inclusion of energy-efficiency measures and promotion of renewable-energy use as part of the environmental management plans for the island, especially in the construction or expansion of establishments; the provision of regular energy audits, skillshares and workshops among establishments to ensure the continuation and  replication of successful practices in the areas of energy and water conservation, as well as ecological waste management.

The project will also endeavor to promote the island as a climate-friendly destination through the provision of energy efficiency workshops for tourists and visitors.

Hog raisers seek duty-free importation of equipment, upgrade of diagnostic labs

HOG raisers, particularly in Luzon, are asking the government to allow them to import equipment used in production at zero duty to help them become competitive in view of increasing production costs and the losses they incurred due to various diseases that hit the industry last year.

RP to offer rebranded ‘adventure and ecotourism havens’ to lure HK tourists

THE government is now seeking to multiply Hong Kong tourists who are visiting the country by offering to them several tourism sites in the Philippines as rebranded “adventure and ecotourism havens.”

THE Department of Tourism (DOT) has now been given clearance to conduct a Visitor Sample Survey (VSS) by the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) through the Statistical Survey Review and Clearance System (SSRCS).

STAKEHOLDERS in the world-famous Boracay Island have launched the “Save the Climate, Save Boracay” project, an initiative that will attempt to make Boracay a climate-friendly destination through the implementation of energy-efficient measures among resorts, restaurants, bars and other establishments on the island.

Lack of funds, low-quality teachers keep poor uneducated

DESPITE the fact that the country prides itself in having highly educated citizens, the present difficulties of rising poverty and years of low education budgets set by the national government is causing many children to drop out or all together lose interest in obtaining an education.

FAO endorses guidelines for responsible fish trade

THE United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) endorsed a set of technical guidelines aimed at promoting responsible international trade in fish and fishery products.

PEMC expresses high hopes of running power market in Visayas

POWER market operator Philippine Electricity Market Corp. (PEMC) still pushes the need to commercially launch the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) in the Visayas, which would help bring the much-needed investments for additional generation capacity in the said island-region.