Boracay Hospital closed for renovation

The Boracay District Hospital is temporarily not accepting patients because of the ongoing renovation.

Malay Councilor Peter Sacapano said Wednesday that the temporary closure was recommended by the Provincial Health Office. The closure of the hospital started Tuesday.

"Based on the PHO recommendation, the Malay Health Office (MHO) which is also in Boracay will serve as temporary shelter for indigents seeking health services," Sacapano said.

However, the MHO in Barangay Balabag has limited bed capacity, prompting the Malay council to request the PHO to consider renting vacant rooms that could accommodate the patients.

"The cost should be shouldered by the PHO," added Sacapano.

Tourists warned of illegal island hopping activities

The Malay Tourism Office warns tourists against the proliferation of illegal island hopping activities in this resort island.

Felix Delos Santos, chief tourism officer, said that they have received several reports about the tourists having been victimized by fake agents.

The fake agents approach tourists for a transaction on island hopping. They would then seek down payments of thousands of pesos from potential victims and will then fail to meet the them at the agreed upon schedule.

"There is an official booth both in station 1 and 3 in Boracay where accredited agents of island hopping activities can be seen. Their operations are for sea sports and island hopping activities," said Delos Santos.

The local government is currently investigating those who are not official members of the Boracay Island Hopping Activities (BIHA) for possible estafa cases.

DENR maintains zero construction policy in Boracay forest areas

The Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) maintains the "no build zone" policy in forest areas in this resort island.

Merlyn Aborka of the PENRO said they continue to receive reports of several new constructions ongoing in declared forest areas in this resort island.

"The DENR continues to maintain moratorium that we are not giving new environmental compliance certificates (ECC's) to new constructions. What the DENR gives is the ECC for the upgrading of resorts only," said Aborka, adding that it was the Environmental Management Bureau of the DENR which issues the ECCs.

The PENRO together with the regional and national DENR officials are currently studying how to properly implement land use and zoning plan in this resort island.

"Our main problem is even though we wanted to implement no build policy in forest areas, some investors are still pushing for their construction of resorts even without necessary government clearances. This illegal activity destroys our already dwindling forest cover in Boracay," Aborka added.

Boracay has around 400 hectares of preserved forest land and 628.96 hectares of agricultural land.

DENR probes collapse of Tambisaan Port

The Aklan Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) is conducting an investigation over the collapsed portion of the Tambisaan Port here.

The Tambisaan Port is being used by the local government as alternative port for tourists during habagat season.

The said port overhang at the big corals occurred Saturday.

Boulders and cements were taken at the sea on Wednesday as this has become eyesore to tourists.

Heherson 'Bong' Alvarez of the PENRO said that the collapse may have been due to the habagat.

No one was reported hurt in the said incident.

Cruise ship 'MS The World' to visit Boracay in July

The Aklan provincial government is anticipating the port of call of the 'MS The World' in this resort island this July.

MS The World is considered a private residential cruise ship serving as a residential community owned by its members. Members are coming from 19 countries worldwide and is based in Florida, USA.

Niven Maquirang, jetty port administrator, said that they are finalizing the meeting with the agent Jardine Shipping for the expected arrival on July 28-29.

"We anticipate at least 10 cruise ships to visit Boracay this year as we continue to promote Boracay as a premiere cruise hub," Maquirang said Wednesday.

This is the first time that MS The World will visit Boracay.

Report said the MS The World has 165 residences (106 apartments, 19 studio apartments, and 40 studios), all owned by the ship's "residents." Average occupancy is 150 to 200 residents and guests.

APEC Ocular Team now in Boracay

The national ocular team of the Asia Pacific Economic Conference (APEC) is now in Boracay to conduct inspection of its facilities for the second time.

The visit is one of the many preparations as the APEC organizing committee is seriously considering this resort island as one of the venues for the APEC Conference 2015.

The APEC Team headed by Ambassador Ma. Angelina Sta. Catalina, deputy director for conference management and services, is expected to sit down for a dinner meeting with the local government executives Tuesday night.

Among the agenda is the possible hosting of Boracay for the official APEC meeting on trade. The said meeting will be attended by the members of the Ministers Responsible for Trade (MRT) of APEC.

The lead local committee for the APEC Conference on Trade will be headed by the Department of Trade ad Industry.

On Wednesday, the APEC tem will inspect key facilities such as the local airports, hotels and other possible sites which may be of use to the APEC 2015 meeting.

The Philippine National Police vowed to make the APEC 2015 Ministers Meeting zero crime zone.

‘Conserve electricity, conserve environment’

The Department of Energy (DOE) urged the public to conserve electricity to conserve the environment.
Electricity is used in majority of industries in the Philippines, and its utilization causes pollution.
The country ranks 42nd worldwide as a major contributor to pollution, which in the long run would cause climate change, said Crizaldo Santos, science research specialist for the Energy Utilization Management Bureau of DOE.
“When we save electricity, we help conserve the environment,” Santos said.
As the country progresses, it becomes more and more impossible not to use electricity, which in turn affects the environment, he said.
“The DOE is doing everything it can to help conserve electricity and conserve the environment,” he said.
Santos was here early this week to give energy-saving tips to members of the Multi-Sectoral Advisory Council.
Meanwhile, the DOE has identified Boracay as venue of the Visayas-wide summit on electricity conservation slated on June 25–27./