Let Boracay heal, says Aklanon scientist

atural healing is the best way for Boracay Island to recover from environmental damage, according to an Aklanon scientist.

Allowing a phenomenon called natural attenuation will mitigate any damage the island is suffering from, said Raymond Sucgang.

Sucgang currently works as a senior science research specialist at the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology.

A native of Batan town, he has studied the environment of the world-famous island resort.

“Natural attenuation is the process wherein the environment heals itself,” he said – much like the human body that can heal itself whenever its systems get compromised.

But Sucgang warned that “if the body’s health is severely compromised, healing can take a very long time – or may not happen at all. The same can be said of a contaminated environment.”

The United States’ Environmental Protection Agency defines natural attenuation as “a variety of physical, chemical or biological processes that, under favorable conditions, act without human intervention to reduce the mass, toxicity, mobility, volume, or concentration of contaminants in soil or groundwater.”

Sucgang believes Boracay may still “heal” on its own. “Unfortunately most of our decision-makers are unaware of this,” he said.

He added: “At least three things must be considered: the status quo of the system – major consideration is nutrient loading – the carrying capacity of the system, and the tipping point.

“If pollution has reached the tipping point, serious damage already occurred, and there is no way for the system to recover.”

Sucgang has previously recommended letting Boracay “rest.” Activities such as fire-dancing, helmet diving and sandcastle-making must be strictly regulated, if not prohibited, too, he said./