‘Illegal’ souvenir items sold in Boracay

 The Philippine Conservation (Philicon) based in Pandan, Antique claims selling of souvenir items allegedly generated from a protected area is rampant in this resort island.
Christian Schwarz, a German national based in Pandan, Antique representing the Philincon, said the souvenir items may have been taken from the Northwest Panay Peninsula, which is considered a national protected area.
The Northwest Panay Peninsula is consist of the towns of Nabas, Malay, Buruanga in Aklan, including Pandan and Libertad in Antique.
For his part, Ivene Reyes, chief of the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO), said he has urged the Philincon to file a formal complaint in their office.
The PENRO also hopes Philincon would help them find evidence to prove that indeed the souvenir items were illegally taken out of the protected area.
“Based on the photos I have seen, the souvenir items were already processed and it is difficult to track down their origin. I hope Philincon officials would cooperate,” said Reyes.
The Philincon is a German-funded conservation group.