Rare bird species nests off Boracay

The Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) of Aklan has found a nesting ground of a rare bird off the Tambisaan Port here.
Heherson T. Alvarez, a forester for PENRO, said they have identified the rare bird species as pelagic cormorant (Phalacrocorax pelagius).
The sea cormorant species can be found in the coasts from the eastern part of North Asia to the northern part of East Asia, Alvarez said.
What tourists commonly see as a small rock formation off Tambisaan is actually the nesting ground of the rare bird species.
“PENRO is currently conducting a study on this new find,” Alvarez said. “Tambisaan Port may have been the nesting ground of such bird many years ago.”
The Malay municipal government uses the Tambisaan Port as an entry and exit point for tourists bound for Boracay during the habagat season. The original entry and exit point is the Caticlan Jetty Port.
EVOLUTION
With this discovery, Alvarez expressed concern on the possible alteration of biodiversities in the island resort and the mainland Malay once planned infrastructure developments in the locality take shape.
The municipal government plans to construct a bridge that will connect the world-famous island to the mainland.
“The biodiversity of Boracay is entirely different from that of mainland Malay,” Alvarez said.
For example, rat species, among others, in Boracay are mostly white while those in the mainland are commonly black, said the forester.
While putting up the bridge is technically all right, it will allow species to cross over from Boracay to mainland Malay and vice versa, he said.
“This process will surely [lead to] an evolution of the species,” he stressed. “We do not know yet how they will evolve.”
Alvarez also said Boracay is richer in terms of food sources compared to mainland Malay — hinting of a possible migration of species from the mainland to the island resort./

Another wind power farm eyed in Aklan

Airline company AirAsia’s plan to make the Kalibo International Airport (KIA) a hub of its flights could benefit this town, Gov. Florencio Miraflores said.
If AirAsia’s plan to establish its own terminal materializes, it would ensure the sustainability of economic growth in this provincial capital, Miraflores said.
He also said the plan could also sustain the operations of KIA.
AirAsia currently has a direct flight to Manila and Malaysia from the Kalibo airport.
It vowed to strengthen its operations by adding more local and international flights as soon as its terminal and its facilities are already put up.
The Department of Transportation and Communications also promised to fast-track various development projects at KIA.
It is embarking on P6 billion worth of projects for the airport’s development and modernization.
Among the projects are the construction of runway extension, additional apron space, roads and new terminal buildings, and the expansion of the runway.
Meanwhile, the Godofredo P. Ramos Airport in Brgy. Caticlan, Malay town, is also being developed as an international gateway, Miraflores said.
Developments at the Caticlan airport is being funded by San Miguel Corp.
Businessmen and residents were at first doubtful about the development of the airport, particularly the plan to accommodate more international flights.

Boracay surpasses Guinness record for longest massage chain

This resort island successfully surpassed on Friday its target for the longest massage chain and land in the Guinness Book of World Records.

The world record attempt was witnessed by hundreds of tourists, media, residents and local government officials and the Department of Health (DoH).

Felix Delos Santos, tourism officer of Malay town, said that at least 1,600 masseuse participated in the world record attempt registered at 8:30 a.m. Friday.

"There are around 2,000 masseuse who wishes to participate but we only limit it to 1,600 because of the lack of space at the front beach," Delos Santos said.

Currently, the title holder of the longest massage chain is Thailand with 1,223 participants.

"The DoH will endorse the world record attempt to the Guinness Book of World Records as we await for their official declaration," Delos Santos said.

Boracay Do's and Don'ts get support from Church, stakeholders

The so-called Boracay Do's and Don'ts advocacy campaign gets support from different sectors including the Catholic Church, Aklan provincial government and business community such as the Boracay Foundation, Incorporated.

Niven Maquirang, jetty port administrator, said that the Aklan provincial government plans to include in the signages of private advertisers both in Caticlan and Cagban the Do's and Don'ts Advocacy Campaign.

"We are planning to require advertisers in the jetty port to allocate portion of their advertising space the advocacy campaign," said Maquirang.

Some Do's and Don'ts campaign in Boracay includes prohibition on smoking and drinking of liquor,littering at the front beach, collection of pebbles and white sand, among others.

"We are helping this advocacy because we believe we also have the capability of reaching and informing our tourists on what to do while in Boracay," said Maquirang.

The BFI for its part, plans to put up signages of the advocacy campaign in the strategic areas of Boracay. The BFI links its support to Boracay Beach Management Program of the local government.

Rev. Fr. Edwin Chi Yu of the Holy Rosary Parish in Barangay Balabag, Boracay said that they are planning to occasionally include in their masses the call to help conserve the environment of this resort island.

AirAsia becomes first airline to pilot INTERPOL I-Checkit system

KUALA LUMPUR– As part of ongoing efforts to enhance international travel security, AirAsia is to pilot INTERPOL’s I-Checkit system to screen the passports of all its prospective passengers against the world police body’s Stolen and Lost Travel Documents (SLTD) database.

Once implemented later this month the pilot project will see AirAsia become the first airline to integrate I-Checkit with their own check in systems during the passenger check-in phase across its entire international network, allowing passenger passport numbers to be compared against INTERPOL’s SLTD database which contains more than 40 million records from 167 countries.

I-Checkit will allow the airline to query the SLTD database but not gain direct access to it. With the pilot project respecting national legislation linked to data protection, no personal data will be transmitted to INTERPOL, with only the travel document number, form of document and country code screened against SLTD. Should a passenger’s passport register a positive match against the database, AirAsia has procedures in place that will refer the passenger to local authorities. INTERPOL's procedures would simultaneously be engaged to notify all relevant INTERPOL National Central Bureaus worldwide.

AirAsia Group CEO, Tony Fernandes, said: “AirAsia is extremely pleased to be the first airline globally to collaborate with INTERPOL to implement I-Checkit. The partnership we have created will result in improved passenger security and will support our desire to offer low fares, but with the added assurance that this system and partnership provides.”

The I-Checkit system will be deployed across all of AirAsia’s international operations, covering a network of 100 airports across Asia and 600 international flights per day to more than 20 countries worldwide.

In the event of a positive match registered via I-Checkit, alerts for further verification will also be sent to INTERPOL’s National Central Bureau (NCB) of the country that owns the travel document data, and to INTERPOL’s General Secretariat headquarters in Lyon, France.

"INTERPOL is very proud to be piloting I-Checkit with AirAsia. This will raise the bar across the industry for passenger safety and security by preventing individuals using stolen or lost passports from boarding international flights,” said INTERPOL Secretary General Ronald K. Noble during his visit AirAsia operations at Kuala Lumpur's klia2 terminal.

"AirAsia has established the new standard for airline security by screening the passports of all international passengers against INTERPOL’s database. After today, airlines will no longer have to depend solely on countries screening passports to keep passengers safe from terrorists and other criminals who use stolen passports to board flights. Like AirAsia, they will be able to do it themselves as well," added the Head of INTERPOL.

Currently, less than 10 countries systematically screen passenger passports against INTERPOL's Stolen and Lost Travel Document database, with approximately four out of every 10 passports on international flights not screened against INTERPOL’s database.

I-Checkit was created to fill this glaring security gap by allowing airlines to instantaneously check whether a person intending to board an international flight is using a passport registered with INTERPOL as stolen or lost. It takes less than 0.5 seconds to query INTERPOL’s database once a passport is scanned.

Boracay bids for massage world record

BORACAY – The local government of Malay, Aklan wants this island paradise to land in the Guinness Book of World Records for the “longest massage chain.”
The current record for the longest massage chain, according to the Guinness Book of World Records, is 1,223. This was achieved by Thailand on April 28, 2010.
Two Thailand-based companies – Have A Good Dream Co. Ltd. and Thai Beverage Marketing Co. Ltd. – teamed up to create a massage chain at the Rama IX Park in Bangkok.
All participants were seated in three circles behind one another, with each circle measuring 611.5 meters.
The following massages were performed: temporal lobe, neck, shoulders, arms and back (chopped style).
Boracay wants to break this world record on May 16 which has been declared by the municipal government of Malay as “Boracay Day.”
Felix De Los Santos, tourism officer of the municipality of Malay where Boracay geopolitically belongs, said they will be needing at least 1,500 massage therapists to break Thailand’s record.
Massages are one of more popular indulgences in Boracay such that the local government of Malay has decided to regulate its practice.
Municipal Ordinance No. 2000-132 regulates activities along the White Beach area offered by “vendors” or people in exchange for money. They include masseurs, manicurists, boatmen and sailboat operators engaged in island hopping, operators of motorbike for hire and ambulant and stationary vendors selling fruits, shell craft, garments, sunglasses and other souvenir items, etc.
Under the ordinance, vendors, including masseurs, are required to wear prescribed uniforms and identification cards.
Section 3 of the ordinance strictly prohibits these vendors to approach and/or disturb tourists to offer their goods or services.
“Vendors engaged in selling and promoting services like massage, island hopping and boat trips shall be required to transact their business in all boat stations or in places identified and sanctioned by the Municipality. They may put up a signboard indicating their services being offered,” part of Municipal Ordinance No. 2000-132 read.
While manicure and pedicure shall be strictly prohibited along the White Beach, massage shall be allowed at the vegetation area only, stated the ordinance.
Under Section 4 of the ordinance, any person or group of persons found guilty violating it shall be fined not more than P500 plus the confiscation of goods and accessories and/or imprisonment of not more than three days.

Aklan to hold 3 must-see events this week

Two colorful festivals and an attempt to land in the Guinness Book of World Records is making the people of Aklan busy this week.

Now on its fourth year, the Bayangan Festival in Lezo, Aklan will be held on May 13.

"Bayangan" is the local word for pottery making. During a showdown, contestants from different barangays showcase their respective interpretations on how the traditional pottery making is done through dances and performances.

On June 15, the Bariw Festival in Nabas, Aklan, now on its 10th year, showcases the art of creating "bariw" or mats through ethnic choreographic dance steps with participants dressed in colorful mat costumes.

Nabas Mayor James Solanoy said the Bariw Festival has four to five groups participating.

"We have gathered the barangays in Nabas and divided them into at least four of five small districts for them to be able to come up with a grander choreographic dances," said Solanoy.

Both the Bayangan and Bariw Festivals are celebrated in honor of their patron saint Isidore the Farmer.

On May 16, the local government of Malay is enjoining massage therapists in Boracay to break the Guinness Book of World Records longest massage chain.

Currently, the Guinness holder of the longest massage chain was Thailand with 1,223 participants. The local government of Malay is targeting 1,500 participants to achieve the feat.

Transport group protests additional P35 fare for tourists

The Kalibo International Airport Transport Association (KIATA) has expressed strong opposition to the proposal of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) of charging P35 each in addition to the regular transport fare of tourists bound for Boracay.

In a press conference here Thursday morning, Noemi Panado, KIATA president, said they are surprised by the CAAP management of the sudden charging of fees. The CAAP underwent a dry run of the charging of fare Wednesday afternoon.

"We have not been consulted on the said implementation. We do not want to burden our passenger with the increase on the one way trip. The CAAP has not been issuing receipt for the supposed payment. We were not even clear who will be benefiting from the proposed fees," he said.

After the press conference, the KIATA aims to seek lawyers opinion on the possible request for the temporary restraining order at the Kalibo Regional Trial Court against the implementation.

"As much as possible, we will never resort to holding a rally or holding a picket as this may damage tourism. What we are planning to do is to wage a legal battle against CAAP," Panado added.

CAAP is currently not giving a statement on the accusation of the KIATA. But that it will hold a meeting with the KIATA together with the airport stakeholders on Friday.

KIATA is composed of 17 different groups of local L300 van organizations.

Boracay PNP to set up booths at the white beach

The Boracay Tourists Assistance Center (BTAC) is currently preparing to set up booths in the white beach of this resort island to avert cases of theft and robbery.

Chief Inspector Mark Evan Salvo, BTAC chief, said that both foreign and domestic tourists have already been victimized by thieves. Many of the victims left their belongings unattended at the white beach while swimming.

"The booth will be called 'Panatag Na po Ako (PNPA) which mandates the police to become more visible in the beach," said Salvo.

This week, a Korean national and two Filipino tourists reported to the BTAC that their personal belongings were lost at the front beach.

Aside from the police visibility, the BTAC is also planning to set up lockers at the booth for the tourists to temporarily leave their belongings while on swimming.

"We are currently in the process of designing such booth," Salvo said.

In 2013, at least 43 suspected thieves were arrested by the Boracay police preying on foreign and local tourists as victims.