Panelo son gets Malay TRO

Atty. Salvador Paolo Panelo Jr. said his legal quest to defend some Boracay businesses in Bulabog Beach against a series of demolitions which came without court orders by the Malay local government unit (LGU) is being fully supported by his father, presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo.

Panelo Jr. filed a petition before Branch 7 of the Kalibo Regional Trial Court asking the Malay LGU to temporarily suspend the demolition order of 10 resorts and establishments, in which the trial court judge issued a 20-day Temporary Restraining Order last 15 October 2019 which will expire on 4 November this year.

In an interview after the court hearing Wednesday afternoon, Panelo said he was constantly reminded by his father to take sides with the law.

“We do not talk about this Boracay concern. However, knowing the details of the Boracay issue when President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the closure last year, (he) emphasized to always follow the law. Demolition of structures without court orders is illegal, so I am asking the court to officially declared the demolition illegal and null and void,” he said.

Atty. Melanio Prado, who represented the Malay LGU, said that the demolition order was carried out because several resorts and residents in Bulabog Beach have violated the 25+5 rule which means they have encroached the required beach easement.

Among those resorts affected by the demolition order were the Aira Hotel, Ventoso Residences, Freestyle Academy Kite Surfing School, Kite Center at Banana Bay, Wind Riders Inn, Pahuwayan Suites, Boracay Gems, Unit 101 of 7 Stones Boracay Suites, Unit 107 of 7 Stones Boracay Suites and Lumbung Residences.

After the hearing, the regional trial court has set 11 November to hear both sides of the Malay LGU and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to air their side on the petition.

Since the TRO issued will expire on 5 November, both Panelo Jr. and Prado agreed in a gentlemen’s agreement not to push for the demolition pending the decision of the judge.

Villar seeks understanding on the implementation of rice tarification law

Senator Cynthia Villar seeks understanding as several farmers complained on the effects of rice tarrification in the countryside.

In a press conference here Thursday, Villar said the rice tarrification law was only approved February this year.

"We still have to wait for two years for the farmers to become competitive. The farmers will still have to be trained for them to understand what to do," Villar said.

Villar was here at the Regency Henan Hotel serving as keynote speaker for the 26th National Convention of the Philippine Water Works Association.

"The Department of Budget and Management is yet to release for a P5000 financial assistance for farmers all over the country,' she said.

Preservation of Boracay moral values urged

The president of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry-Boracay (PCCI) called on the different sectors for the preservation of moral values among Filipino children in this resort island after the controversy of a tourist wearing almost nothing went viral on social media recently.

Elena Brugger, PCCI-Boracay President, said that the call developed over the furor caused by a Taiwanese female tourist wearing skimpy strings last week.

She said that while residents respect the cultures of different races coming to enjoy Boracay, foreign tourists should also respect Filipinos and the Filipino culture the same way.

“Filipino kids in Boracay are now influenced by the diversity of culture. The traditional culture of hard work, nature, love, and respect are slowly diminishing in this resort island,” she said.

As exposure to different cultures is inevitable, the traditional and conservative values of the Filipino culture should still be preserved.

“I already saw Filipino children adapting the way of life of many people in Boracay. This resort island is considered a holiday destination and what Filipino children see are the side of a good life, drinking liquor, having an easy-go-lucky attitude. These traits can now be easily seen among the millennials in this resort island,” Brugger admitted.

Fire-depressed areas in Boracay identified

The Bureau of Fire Protection has identified several fire-depressed areas in this resort island.

In an interview, provincial fire marshall Supt. Nazrudyn Cablayan said they are exerting efforts to ensure that fire incidents would be minimized in these areas.

“We are planning to put up combination stand pipes in the areas considered as fire depressed in order to ensure mobility of our firefighters and rescue volunteers,” he said.

Named fire depressed areas were ((Yapak) Ayala Compound, Balinghai Area, Mountain of God School; (Balabag) Richroad Mangayad, PCTV area, Talipapa, Seven Stones area Bulabog, Bulabog Beach area, Escondido, Pinaungon Idalum, Bulabog Extension; (Manoc Manoc) Tambisaan, Cabanbanan, Angol Plaza, Sitio Logutan and Sitio Ambulong North and South.

“Last week, we visited all our fire hydrants in this resort island and found that all of them are working,” he added.

Meanwhile, Cablayan said that at least 25 houses were razed by fire Thursday night in Sitio Pinaungon Ibabaw, Barangay Balabag Boracay. The area was not considered a fire-depressed area.

“Damage was estimated at P300,000. A member of a Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Organization identified as Dave Ong have been injured . Our investigators have already identified the house where the fire originated and we are investigating the cause of the fire,” said Cablayan.

Wooden-hulled boats phase-out underway

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) is now cooperating with the Caticlan-Boracay Multi-Purpose Cooperative (CBTMPC) in the implementation of the phasing out of wooden-hulled boats not only in this resort island but all over the country.

Lieutenant Commander Marlowe Acevedo, head of the PCG-Aklan said that he received a memorandum coming from the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) about the planned phasing out of wooden-hulled boats.

For several years, the CBTMPC has been largely using wooden-hulled boats transporting tourists and residents to and from Boracay and Caticlan, Malay, Aklan.

“As soon as I received the memorandum from MARINA, I have been discussing this with the CBTMPC. The management are cooperating with the plan,” Acevedo said.

In recent years, the CBTMPC has already started acquiring few units of fiberglass boats anticipating the MARINA policy of phasing out wooden-hulled boats. Last 1 October the CBTMPC enforced a price adjustment from P23 to P30 for both tourists and residents traversing Caticlan-Boracay and vice versa.

Acevedo said he was advised by the CBTMPC officials that the price adjustment is meant to raise funds for the acquisition of more fiberglass boats.

The MARINA policy mandated phasing out of wooden-hulled boats operation in five years.

Boracay to host global MSME forum in 2020

The Department of Trade and Industry is preparing to host the global Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) forum next year.

DTI-Aklan chief Carmen Ituralde said the Bureau of the International Trade Relations will initiate the forum in Boracay Island.   

“Our Trade and Industry specialist Marie Sherylyn Aquia has met with local officials in Malay to discuss necessary preparations in the said global forum,” Ituralde said.

The Global MSME Forum 2020 will serve as a culminating activity for the implementation of the Asia-Pacific Economic Conference (APEC)-Boracay Action Plan Agenda (BAA). 

The initiative started when the Philippines hosted the APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade meeting in the island on 2015. 

The BAA plans to strengthen global actions in order to harness the opportunities presented by open and increasingly integrated markets and to take advantage of new opportunities that allow these enterprises to more significantly participate in the global trade.(With APEC/