Cawaling defends Puka Beach resort project

Malay mayor Ceciron Cawaling has defended a resort project at Puka Beach in Barangay Yapak in this island after it has received negative comments from netizens.

Facebook page Protect Boracay posted photos of the project on Jan. 8. The post has currently over 4,000 shares and over 1,000 reactions.

The post, which was initially captioned “Haya ron ang hitsura it Puka Beach kadya (This is how Puka Beach looks like now),” have sparked concerns from netizens.

Some have called out the Department of Environment and Natural Resources for “non-action.”

One Facebook user posted, “Binaboy niyo na ang Boracay!”

The resort project is owned by Seven Seas Boracay Property, Inc. (SSBPI).

Cawaling, who initiated an investigation regarding the issue, communicated with the company.

“The project manager of SSBPI clarified that the construction of pre-cast concrete panels and sand bags were preemptive preparation against typhoon ‘Agaton’ which struck the Philippines on Jan. 2 this year,” Cawaling wrote in a Jan. 10 letter.

Many resorts in Boracay have undertaken massive preemptive preparations after tropical storms “Urduja,” “Vinta” and “Agaton” caused flooding the island from late December to early January.

“We also conducted an inspection and we were able to prove that the SSBPI has complied with the local ordinance and environmental laws, especially the 25+5 easement regulation in Boracay prior to their construction,” Cawaling added.

SSBPI officials lamented the photos circulating the social media.

The photos were taken in such a way that does not show the whole construction project, they said.

The Puka Beach was named as one of the 12 “crystal clear beaches in the world,” according to the Trip Advisor.

For locals, the beach is the last bastion of underdeveloped Boracay