BORACAY ISLAND—Alarmed by the fast deterioration of coral reefs due to increased sea-surface temperature, unregulated tourism and overfishing, the local government unit of this tropical island paradise is seeking help in protecting and rehabilitating its fragile natural resources.
Malay, Aklan Mayor John Yap said an increasing number of local businesses, corporate foundations and environmental organizations are coming up with programs seeking to preserve the island’s natural treasures such as its fragile marine and terrestrial environment including its coral reefs.
He said that scientists have expressed alarm that at least 15 percent to 20 percent of the coral reefs in Boracay are left in fragile condition and have recommended the regulation of tourism activities such as snorkeling; management of solid waste and treatment of sewage effluents that could destroy the remaining corals.
Boracay, which is just an hour away from Manila, has become a very popular destination with 908,875 foreign and local tourists arrivals recorded in 2011. With its four-kilometer, white-powder sand beach and awe-inspiring sceneries, Boracay outshines other tropical islands and in fact, dubbed as the “2011 Best Beach in Asia” by a travel web site Tripadvisor.
Recently, a P60-million artificial reef project to conserve and rehabilitate the island’s coral reefs was launched.
Yap said there is an immediate need to stabilize and protect the reefs and designate marine protected areas in the island.
Last month private groups and the local government have deployed around 121 artificial reef domes covering 130 square meters of Boracay’s coastal waters as part of the coastal-management program to protect, sustain and enhance the island’s coastal and marine resources.
The artificial reef domes, deployed in water 12-50 feet deep along the island’s beach front, are made of concrete, calcium-rich material that can help boost coral growth. The domes are also designed to serve as sanctuary for fishes.
“The island is blessed with tremendous landscape beauty and biodiversity that is why we see an influx of tourists here yearly. We need to tie up promoting tourism and protecting our environment,” Yap said.
Ronald Allan Victorino, project officer of the Petron Foundation Inc., said “the domes provide a healthy habitat that can attract various fish species. They can help increase fish density. Since they are deployed on the beach front, the domes also function as wave breakers, especially during typhoon season.”
Monitoring of the coastal-resource management particularly the state of the artificial reef domes will be undertaken every two months to record the growth of corals and other marine species in the vicinity, Victorino said.
The coastal-resource management is a project of the Boracay Beach Management Program (BBMP) with the LGUs, the Boracay Foundation Inc., Petron Corp., Petron Foundation, San Miguel Corp. and other stakeholders.
“Over the years, we saw a rapid change in Boracay as it enjoys a lot of economic growth and many growing businesses,” said Dionisio Salme, president of the Boracay Foundation, a nongovernmental organization that represents the business community. “That is why there is a need for better control over developing and safeguarding its fragile environment.”
Dionisio, who is also the president of the BBMP, told the BusinessMirror that to ensure the sustainability of Boracay as among Asia’s best beaches for many years to come, various environmental activities and awareness programs have been implemented since 2010, including anti-littering and anti-smoking campaigns, water and waste-water management, solid-waste management and coastal management.
“Caring for our environment is part of our business and we are looking for more ways on how to sustain the beauty of our environment,” Salme said.
A significant improvement in the island is the provision of reliable and quality water and efficient wastewater treatment through the P78-million project Boracay Island Water Co. (BIWC) instituted in 2010, said Blanca Eunicia Aldaba, an expert from the BIWC.
Access to potable water has reached 96 percent of households and establishments. The sewage treatment plant has been upgraded to safely treat wastewater before it is released to the sea, Aldaba said.
“This island has long been threatened by dirty water before we came in due to the increasing amounts of sewage discharge in the waters which endangers the corals and the public. But now, we are recovering from that problem due to the upgraded facility we have which is designed to safely treat wastewater,” Aldaba said.
Boracay Island Water Co. is a partnership between the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority and the Manila Water Co. Inc.
Local businesses welcome the efforts of various sectors in sustaining economic development and preserving the environment of Boracay, said Bong Magcanlas, proprietor of the White Sand and Clear Water Aqua Sport.
“Our business depends on the treasured beauty and well-maintained environment of Boracay. So we are also active in assisting the local government and local businesses in most of their environmental activities and awareness program,” said Magcanlas.
Protecting Boracay’s environment is, indeed, everyone’s concern. With its enchanting beauty, the island of Boracay remains as the unbeatable tourist destination in the country and the most recognizable tropical paradise in Asia and one of the top tourist destinations in the world.
In Photo: Boracay remains a favorite destination for foreign and local tourists. (Imelda Abaño)
