85% of Boracay road revamp finished, says DPWH’s Villar

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is assuring the public that the current road upgrading efforts for the circumferential road of this island destination is nearing completion.

DPWH secretary Mark Villar revisited Boracay this week to inspect the circumferential road, explaining that construction has largely been delayed due to the recent series of inclement weather.

With the start of the six-month Boracay closure in April, the DPWH began its road upgrading of the 4.1-kilometer circumferential road. Another 3.5 kilometers in new circumferential roads are expected to be paved next year.

“Currently, we already have finished 85 percent of road upgrading including the sidewalk,” Villar told reporters.

DPWH has also constructed a 204-meter reinforced concrete pipe culvert, to fill a missing gap in the island’s drainage facility. It will have five catchment basins, a 22-meter cross drain, and 130-meter cut-off wall for installation of curb and gutter.

Other improvement activities in Boracay include the clearing of illegally placed structures and the construction of a road network leading to and along Bulabog Beach.

Boracay Halloween celebration simple

Halloween traditions in this resort island on October 31 had been made simple as the national government banned beach parties. This is a far cry from the celebrations that marked this resort island before it was closed on April 26.

Both tourists and residents enjoyed frolicking and swimming at the beach, eating and shopping. Foreigners and residents also dressed in scary costumes in line with the Halloween traditions.

Halloween costume parties were also held in bars and night clubs far from the beach.

Ramel Buncalan, president of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry-Kalibo, noted President Duterte fulfilled his promise to open Boracay after six months.

Businesses in Kalibo were also affected, some were closed, according to Buncalan. He noted that the closure of Boracay, which is several kilometers away from Kalibo, also caused the displacement of employees in Kalibo.

Boracay fire dancers ‘must use LED devices instead’

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) urged hundreds of fire dancers in this famed island resort to use LED (light-emitting diode) devices.

DENR undersecretary Benny Antiporda said the Boracay Inter-Agency Task Force will prohibit fire dancing in the island starting Oct. 26.

This is aimed at protecting the Boracay beaches, where kerosene used in fire dancing is spilled.

“Fire dancers can use technologies such as LED lights instead. The task force would definitely prohibit fire dancing,” said Antiporda.

He added: “The national government can support the displaced fire dancers in Boracay if needed.”

Boracay was ordered shut beginning April 26 for a half-year rehabilitation after President Rodrigo Duterte called it a “cesspool.”

The Boracay Inter-Agency Task Force was then formed to “reverse” the island’s poor environmental condition. It is led by the DENR, the Department of Tourism and the Department of Interior and Local Government.

On Oct. 15, the holiday island was opened to local tourists for an 11-day dry run of its tourism operations.

When it officially reopens on Oct. 26, Boracay will greet local and foreign tourists with fresh guidelines like the ban on wild beach parties and a daily tourist cap.

DENR to deploy 35 env’t enforcers in Boracay

Some 35 environmental enforcers will be mobilized here next week – days before the scheduled island reopening on Oct. 26.

Environment secretary Roy Cimatu said the environmental enforcers – most of them Boracay residents – are tasked to ensure island’s environmental sustainability.

“Part of their duty is to conduct inspection of the sewage treatment plants (STPs) of the 21 hotels initially accredited by the inter-agency task force,” Cimatu said.

The inspection will be done every three days “so that we could determine if their STPs are effective or not,” the DENR chief added.

The deployment of the environmental enforcers is part of the 11-day dry run for Boracay’s reopening beginning Oct. 15.

Tourists from Aklan will be allowed entry in Boracay on Oct. 15 while those from other neighboring provinces, on Oct. 16.

Foreign tourists and those from other parts of the country will be allowed to enter Boracay on Oct. 26.

Should the deployment of environmental enforcers in Boracay prove itself effective, the same measure will be observed in other tourist destinations in the country, according to the DENR.

EVWealth eyes fleet management program for Boracay

EVWealth Inc. is eyeing to establish a fleet-management program of Electronic Tricycles (e-trikes) in this resort island.

Hernando Esquivel, EVWealth general manager, said they are partnering with the Department of Energy in this endeavor. The DOE is reportedly eyeing to give 200 units of e-trikes to Boracay under a conditional donation scheme.

Esquivel presented the program during the regular weekly council session of the Sanguniang Bayan of Malay on Tuesday.

“Under the scheme, each driver should pay P649 a day for three years to be under the fleet-management program. The fee includes provision of spare parts, passenger-hailing program and installation of battery charges in their residences, among others,” he said.

“E-trikes could boost the drivers’ income in Boracay, since it is cheaper to use compared to traditional tricycles using gasoline. Based on our computation, drivers would only spend P30 pesos worth of fuel compared to the P70 per liter of gasoline,” he said.

28 cruise ship arrivals expected in Boracay in 2019

The Caticlan Jetty Port administrator is expecting at least 28 port calls by different cruise ship companies to visit Boracay in the year 2019.

Niven Maquirang, jetty port administrator said the number of port calls would boost the Boracay tourism industry next year.

"For the remaining part of 2018, we initially expect eight cruise ship visits. Four of them has already cancelled and another four has signified intention to push through with their visit," said Maquirang.

The four that cancelled already signified their interest to instead visit the island resort next year.

Cruise ships that are visiting Boracay only stay on the island for a few hours.

"This is part of the thrust of the Aklan provincial government to promote Boracay as a cruise ship destination. Aside from Boracay, we will also promote other tourism destinations in the province," added Maquirang.

If all 28 cruise ships arrive next year, that would be the highest number of cruise ship arrivals in the province.

The usual number of cruise ship arrivals in the province for the past several years only average at least 12 in a year.

Boracay companies start hiring employees for Oct. 26 reopening

Hotels and establishments in this resort island have started accepting applications for staff in time for the reopening of Boracay Island on October 26, the Provincial Employment Service Office (Peso) said.

Vivian Ruiz-Solano, head of the Peso-Aklan, said a job fair for hundreds of available posts for Boracay businesses was held on August 7.

“Prior to hiring staff, the companies must have a business permit from the local government of Malay. I had to turn down certain companies requesting for a job fair because they do not yet have a local permit,” Solano said.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources announced the opening of Boracay on October 26, six months after this resort island was closed to rehabilitate its environment. Other companies have also announced the availability of hundreds of positions for qualified employees from all over the country. One of the resorts, the Hennan Regency Resort and Spa-Boracay, announced it would be opening on October 27.

Errol Ledesma, an executive of the resort, said that interested applicants may send their resume through e-mail at errol@henann.com. Boracay residents can apply at their resort here from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. Rowen Aguirre, executive assistant of the local government of Malay, said there are still 500 companies in this resort island who are yet to comply with the necessary requirements or the reopening.

“These 500 companies were closed as members of the inter-agency task force visited their offices for inspection. The Department of the Interior and Local Government has given them until September 30 this year to comply with the requirements,” Aguirre said.

Among the requirements are business permits, fire and sanitation clearances, among others.