PR: MEGAWORLD TO FUTURE-PROOF DEVELOPMENTS, ROLLS OUT

Property giant Megaworld is embarking on a company-wide program to ‘future-proof’ its developments around the country through the creation of ‘iTownships.’

Following its 28-year leadership in pioneering the LIVE-WORK-PLAY concept of property development in the Philippines which gave birth to the so-called ‘Townships,” the company is elevating the standards of its developments by incorporating digital technology, design innovations and connectivity into its townships.

“We have assigned teams to study how we can seamlessly integrate smart technology and innovations into our townships. In this fast-changing digital world, we see the importance of aligning our developments to quickly adapt to the disruptions, which we perceive as opportunities,” says Kevin L. Tan, senior vice president, Megaworld.

Among the projects to be implemented under the program include the digitization of customer service and payment processes, integration of smart home technology in residential units, utilization of digital technology and energy-efficient materials in structural designs, creation of Township Operation Centers across all developments which maximizes 24/7 security and safety monitoring and emergency response in every township, urban art installations and creative pedestrian crosswalks, smart parking system including provision for electric vehicle charging in mall developments, among others.

Green and sustainable features will also be at the core of the program. Some of the initiatives that will be implemented include the conversion of old streetlights to LED and solar-powered lights, green roofing for office buildings, provision of vertical green spaces across developments

“iTownships will become our new brand in ‘creating the townships of the future.’ It is about innovation, integration, internet and interconnectivity. Having these features in our townships does not only make our developments ‘future-ready’, but it also allows us to take greater steps towards sustainability and environmental responsibility,” explains Tan.

During the last 28 years, the MegaworldGroup has already built over 660 residential developments, 54 office towers and 15 lifestyle malls in 22 townships and integrated lifestyle communities across the Philippines.

Govt addresses major problems in Boracay

Part One
BORACAY Island—Just give us the order and we’ll “fix” things.
That was what the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Department of Tourism (DoT) have promised to President Duterte, but only if the recommendations they submitted to Duterte would lead to an executive order that would allow these government agencies to fix all the problems in this resort island.

The majority of these problems are flooding and over-population; tricky issues arising despite the local government’s plan to lure more tourists coming to Boracay.

While waiting for the Chief Executive’s signaling, Tourism Secretary Wanda Corazon T. Teo said she has instructed the Tourism Infrastructure Economic Zone Authority (Tieza) to fast-track the construction of drainage problem in this resort island. The construction of drainage is being seen solving flood problems in this resort island.

The Tieza has reportedly allocated some P1.6 billion for fast-tracking construction projects on this resort island. The construction of drainage started way back in 2014.

“We in the DoT are working night and day to solve the problems of Boracay in the Duterte administration,” Teo said. “For this year, we are expecting a triple number of Chinese tourists coming to Boracay.”

Flooding, congestion

IN December 2016 this resort island saw the impact of climate change after around 98 percent was flooded due to high volume of rainwater brought about by Tropical Storm Urduja (Kai-tak).
Last year the national government reportedly earned at least P56 billion generated from it 2.1 million tourist arrivals. The said amount was based on the tourism receipts.

In a forum last year, Overall Deputy Ombudsman/Investment Ombudsman Melchor Arthur Carandang mentioned that too many national government agencies are dipping their hands with the development of Boracay.

“Yet, when problem rises, nobody seems are in charge,” Carandang said.

Environment Secretary Roy A. Cimatu has also said the DENR will spearhead this year’s action to decongest the overpopulation problems in Boracay.

“We conducted an aerial inspection and we found out several structures in no build zone areas. We will be conducting an inventory for all the structures and will ask those violators to explain why,” Cimatu said. “If they are on business and they do not have necessary permits, we will be penalizing them.”

If these actions materialize, the penalty generated will serve as additional sources of revenue for the national coffers of the government, according to local officials.

Business views

WHILE these issues are being discussed, both the Boracay Foundation Inc. (BFI) and the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI)-Boracay are restless, saying that they wanted to see “real action” from the government.

“Several presidents had already visited Boracay and they all both promise to fix the problems of Boracay. Now the administration of Duterte is showing the same thing,” BFI President Nenette Aguirre Graf has said. “We want real action now; no more press release!”

PCCI-Boracay Founding Member Elena T. Brugger added that investors in this resort island have poured billions of pesos to ensure investments and lure more tourists.

“The government is earning billions of pesos,” Brugger said. “The government must also invest and spend for the welfare of Boracay.”

It was gathered that the national government is only giving the local government of Malay, a first-class municipality in the province of Aklan, less than 10 percent of the generated revenues annually as Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA).

According to Brugger, Boracay could have been okay now if only the local government of Malay previously heeded the recommendation of the University of the Philippines’s (UP) National Committee on Marine Sciences (NCMS) outreach marine program in 2008.

The NCMS has undertaken several environmental studies in this resort island for several years and gave a copy to the local government, she added.

Headed by UP Marine Scientist Miguel Fortes, the group strongly recommended enhancing what remains of the seagrass at Boracay’s western part, just fronting White Beach. This will reportedly help protect the coast from further erosion and at the same time improve biodiversity.

Tourist hub

JIMMY Maming, spokesman of incumbent Boracay Mayor Ciceron Cawaling, said the local government of Malay is trying to fix the mistakes of the previous administration
.
For this year, the local government of Malay is targeting at least 2.2 million tourists. The target was based on the 16-percent increase in tourist arrival to this resort island for 2017.

The DoT also expects more cruise ships coming to Boracay, which had already started in previous years.

In January last year Aklan Gov.  Florencio Miraflores, together with several DoT officials, went to the United States to meet with the executives of the international cruise line Royal Caribbean Cruises Inc. Miraflores justified the trip as leading to a memorandum of understanding (MOU) toward making Boracay an international cruise- ship hub destination.

Niven Maquirang, jetty port Administrator, said the MOU eyes a three-year to four-year process to be funded through the private-public partnership scheme.

Maquirang said Royal Caribbean will fund the development, which will include a berthing and terminal facility, eyed to support the growing number of cruise arrivals in the island.

With the hub development, Maquirang said that a cruise-and-fly concept is also targeted to be started in Boracay.

‘Cruise and fly’

THROUGH the “cruise and fly” concept, tourists will fly to Boracay, stay on the island for one or two days and transfer to their next destination via cruise.

The cruise-ship hub, according to Maquirang, will help generate jobs and, likewise, boost income for Aklanon producers and from nearby provinces.

“The proposed cruise port in Boracay will also be used as transit point to other Western Visayas areas like Sicogon in Iloilo,” Maquirang said. Royal Caribbean is one of the biggest contributors to Boracay cruise tourism. Legend of the Seas, one of its cruise lines, is among the earliest that included Boracay as its port of call in the country.

Aside from being a beach destination, Boracay is also considered a major cruise destination in the country and is part of the Turquoise Triangle. This area includes Manila and Palawan.

Last year Boracay retained its recognition as one of the best beach in the world by the international magazine Conde Nast Travel. The “Poor Travellers” web site also named Boracay as one of the top 10 best places in Asia for children. Boracay is also becoming a gaming capital of the country, with the anticipated entry of Chinese gaming firms.

To be continued

48 cruise ships expected to visit Boracay this year

The Aklan provincial government is anticipating at least 48 cruise-ship arrivals this year.

Niven Maquirang, jetty port administrator, said this is the biggest number of port calls for cruise-ships visiting Boracay compared to the past several years. Last year  at least 12 cruise ships were expected to visit the island.

“These cruise ships would further boost the tourist arrivals coming this year,” Maquirang said. This year’s target for Boracay is around 2.2 million tourists.

This January at least 10 cruise- ship arrivals are anticipated; February, another 10; March, 10; April, four; June, one; August,one; October,one; November, four; and December,seven; for a total of 48.

In previous years, the Department of Tourism has been developing Boracay as part of the cruise-ship hub in Southeast Asia.

Nabas mayor seeks help from San Miguel to solve waste woes

Mayor James Solanoy met with the officials of San Miguel Corp. in a bid to solve the waste problem in the town.

Solanoy has a pending case at the Environmental Ombudsman.

The Environmental Ombudsman, which has jurisdiction over violations of environmental laws involving public officials and employees, charged Solanoy and other local executives in Iloilo in 2016 for their alleged noncompliance with Republic Act 9003, or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000.

The Environmental Ombudsman has warned Solanoy and the others of suspension if they fail to ensure environmental sustainability in their respective areas.

Solanoy said he received new documents from the Environment Ombudsman last week asking him to furnish an explanation letter.

“I have already asked my lawyers to immediately respond to the letter of Environmental Ombudsman,” Solanoy said. “The Ombudsman has asked us what we have been doing to comply with the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000.”

Solanoy added, “Honestly, we are currently a fourth-class municipality. We do not know where to get funds to finance the needed requirements as stated in the law.”

Because of this, Solanoy sought help from San Miguel Corp., which is currently building an international airport and an entertainment complex in the town.

The mayor also presented to San Miguel Corp. officials the idea of putting up a private hospital in Nabas.

“They would benefit from it in the future. It can be a health facility for all their staff,” Solanoy said.

San Miguel Corp. has yet to give its response to Solanoy’s proposals./

Malacanang recognizes LGU’s autonomy over Boracay

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque on Saturday said here that the Duterte administration recognized the autonomy of both governments of the province of Aklan and its Malay town in sustaining stewardship in Boracay.

In a Kalibo version of the Malacanang press briefing here, Roque said that Malacanang did not have plans to control the island of Boracay to fix its existing issues.

"Rest assured that President Duterte is for federalism which means empowering local government. So this automatically means that the Malacanang respects the autonomy of the local government in Boracay," he said.

"During initial discussions, both the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Department of Tourism (DOT) have recommended that an executive order should soon be released by President Rodrigo Duterte. The next Cabinet meeting will be on February 25 and I am not yet sure if the executive order for Boracay will be in the agenda then," he added.

He even assured that the Tourism Infrastructure Economic Zone Authority (TIEZA) of the DOT has already approved the PHP1.16 billion drainage project for Boracay.

The drainage project, when completed, is being eyed to address flooding problems in Boracay.

"The construction of the phase 2 project will start by February or March of this year. It is hope(d) to be completed by the year 2020," he said.

Aklan Rep. Carlito Marquez said business, residents and tourists in Boracay might still suffer from flooding while the drainage was being constructed.

"The problem,however, will be temporary, for it would have a lasting solution when it (drainage project) is completed," said Marquez.

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

Protect us – Boracay Aetas

Members of the Boracay Ati Tribal Organization (BATO) are pinning their hopes for social protection on their devotion to the Santo Niño, or Child Jesus, as some corporate firms in this island resort continue to harass them, they said.

BATO chief Delsa Justo said the Holy Rosary Parish in Boracay is investigating the Dec. 6, 2017 incident involving a group of men who destroyed the fence of a 200-hectare Aeta village in Barangay Balabag.

The investigation’s results will be presented before the Parish Pastoral Council soon, Justo added.

The property where the Aeta village is located was given to BATO through a certificate of ancestral domain title.

The National Commission on Indigenous People facilitated the transfer of the land title to the aetas. It was given to them during Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III’s term as president of the Philippines.

In 2013, a security guard of a resort in Boracay gunned down then BATO spokesman Dexter Condez.

The resort allegedly has an interest over the Aeta village property, BATO said.

The BATO is helping the local parish in preparing for the Santo Niño Festival in this island tomorrow.

John Francis Lagman of the Pambansang Kilusan ng mga Samahang Magsasaka (Pakisama) said the Aeta community in Boracay must be protected amid the development in the island’s business and tourism sectors.

“We in Pakisama are helping the Aetas. They need social justice and social protection because they are being continuously threatened,” said Lagman./

Business groups want concerted government effort to improve Boracay infrastructure

Business groups are calling for swift action from the national government to complete unfinished infrastructure projects and remove barriers that deter the futher development of this resort island.

Tourism Secretary Wanda Corazon T. Teo said in a joint news conference here that the Department of Tourism (DOT) would finish a much-delayed drainage project this year while Environment Secretary Roy A. Cimatu said his deparment will decongest Boracay this year.

“We will decongest Boracay by identifying illegal settlers and remove them in the island. To do this, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources [DENR] and the local government of Malay will conduct an inventory of every private structure in this resort island,” Cimatu said.

Both the DOT and the DENR decided to conduct a joint meeting and aerial inspection after receiving complaints over Boracay’s being overdeveloped.

Around 2.1 million tourists visited Boracay in 2017.

Maylynn Graf, president of the Boracay Foundation Inc. said that while she welcomes the initiative of the two secretaries, the business groups here need more interventions from the government.

“No. 1, development that is not done in an aligned manner results in the perception that Boracay is overdeveloped. No. 2, flooding due to the lack of infrastructure to support the development of the island continues to hound residents. The infrastructure was planned 20 years ago but, until now, is not finished and has to be updated and expanded,” Graf said.

“These are just the major concerns. But, if we solve these initially, what a huge difference it will make. We market Boracay all over the world but, as we in the private sector spend billions of pesos in investments, we do our best to provide world-class facilities. People in the government should also invest more. The government should provide Boracay the infrastructure the island badly needs,” she said.

Elena Brugger of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. Boracay said they want to have an implementing body to govern the tourism business in Boracay.

“It is to the nation’s national interest to develop infrastructure and better transportation in the island and in Malay town. We should also have a tourism zone. We must also learn from our mistakes so it could not be replicated any more by other tourism islands in the country,” Brugger said.

FB page vs ‘abusive drivers’ mulled in Boracay

A Facebook (FB) page was mulled to be set up as part of a local campaign against “abusive tricycle drivers” in this island resort.

Malay, Aklan councilor Maylynn Graf said on Thursday that the FB page will encourage the locals and tourists to file formal complaints against these abusive tricycle drivers.

Graf, who chairs the Sangguniang Bayan committee on environment, said she thought of setting up the FB page after she received several complaints against these abusive drivers, especially during the recent holiday season.

The FB page will allow netizens to report the drivers through posting online. The posts will then be referred to local enforcement agencies, like the police, Graf said.

“All they (complainants) have to do is take note or take a photo of the driver’s body number that can be seen on their uniform or the vehicle’s plate number,” said Graf.

She added, “To put an end to the abuses of these erring drivers, we must all cooperate. I am in the process of creating such page.”/

Urban planner signs MOA to develop Boracay, Aklan town

Malay Mayor Ciceron Cawaling on Wednesday officially signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with Urban Planner Arch. Felino Palafox.

Jimmy Maming, newly designated information officer of Cawaling, said the MOA is meant for the seven-month formulation of the Master Development Plan for this island.

“The plan includes not only the development of Boracay, but may expand to the whole of Malay, as well. The plan includes formulation for architectural development and tourism,” Maming said.

“The Cawaling administration is also bent on including the environmental sustainability of this resort island,” he said.

The plan to ink agreement with Palafox started last year.

With the MOA, the local government of Malay is hoping to lure tourists and, at the same time, enhance both environmental and tourism sustainability.

Palafox has been credited for the planning of more than 16 billion square meters of land and the design and architecture of more than 12 million sq m of building floor area in 38 countries.

2.1 million tourists visited Boracay in Aklan last year

This resort island has registered an overwhelming 2.1 million tourists for 2017, the highest number so far recorded.

Felix de los Santos, municipal tourism officer of Malay town, said Boracay recorded 2,001,974 visitors last year.

“We had recorded an increase of 16 percent compared to the 2016 figure,” de los Santos said.

The top 10 groups of tourist arrivals came from China with 375,284; followed by South Korea, 356,644; Taiwan of China, 40,802; the United States, 22,648; and Malaysia, 20,585.

Following were the United Kingdom with 17,416; Saudi Arabia, 15,944; Australia, 15,365; Russia, 14,074; and Singapore, 9,897.

The rest of the visitors were domestic tourists and overseas Filipino workers.

The records also showed April had the highest number of tourist arrivals, followed by the
month of May.

Boracay tourists statistics for 2017

(courtesy of Mr Felix Delos Santos, Malay, Aklan tourism officer)