‘Malay must ensure proper Boracay waste mgt’

The local government unit (LGU) of Malay, Aklan may face more charges for failing to address the garbage problem in this island resort, warned the National Solid Waste Management Commission (NSWMC) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

NSWMC executive director Eli Ildefonso said the Malay LGU “has yet to ensure that the [Ecological] Solid Waste Management Act [of 2000] is properly implemented.”

“Our team already finished cleaning the island of solid waste 30 days after Boracay was closed,” said Ildefonso, stressing that the wastewater problem needs immediate action.

Boracay has been closed since April 26. It is currently undergoing a half-year rehabilitation led by an interagency government task force.

Ineffective waste disposal system had been blamed for environmental problems in the island.

The Interior department already filed charges against local officials before the Office of the Ombudsman over the management of Boracay.

The agency accused Aklan governor Florencio Miraflores of “serious neglect of duty” to ensure sustainability in the tourist destination.

On the other hand, Mayor Ciceron Cawaling and 15 municipal government officials were accused of issuing establishments permits to operate even without the required fire safety inspection certificate.

Meanwhile, Municipal Councilor Maylynn Graf, chairwoman of Malay’s Sangguniang Bayan committee on environment, said she requested the NSWMC to inspect the sanitary landfill in the mainland once Boracay reopens in October.

“We want the NSWMC to see the condition of the sanitary landfill,” she said./

Series of power interruptions in Boracay for six months

Residents and stakeholders in Boracay should expect a series of power interruptions in five months according to the Aklan Electric Cooperative (AKELCO).

Engr. Joel Martinez, assistant general manager for engineering said that the series of power interruptions is caused by the ongoing rehabilitation of this resort island.

The Department of Public Works and Highways is currently undergoing road widening project in this resort island. Because of this, the AKELCO will also have to transfer its electric poles and distribution lines.

Aside from AKELCO, cable television providers and telecommunication facilities will also do a series of line transfers.

Sources said that telecommunication facilities and cable TV firms will place their lines underground while that of AKELCO will still be kept on poles.

“Based on our data, in Boracay we have an over all 881 electrical posts. Some 471 of which will be transferred to nearby locations. The replacement of posts will run along the stretch of 20 kilometers from 39.84 kilometers of line. Around 218 units of transformers will also be transferred including 3,500 meters of electric meters,” Martinez said.

The AKELCO management has already started giving out public advisories in this resort island regarding place and length of time of power interruptions.

Martinez said the AKELCO has plans of placing its distribution lines underground but they have no funds at the moment.

Boracay officials plan to prohibit plastic products in Malay town

The local council is eyeing to prohibit “single-use plastics” not only in this resort island but in the entire Malay town.

Single-use plastics, also known as disposable plastics, are products used only once. Examples of these are toothbrush, toothpaste tubes, shaving razor, shower cap, room slippers, sewing kit, sachets of shampoo or conditioner, liquid body soap, comb, plastic bottled water, plastic straws, coffee stirrers, cotton swabs, sachets of coffee, sugar and creamer, plastic spoons, fork and knives.

“A big percentage of Boracay’s trash is composed of ‘single-used plastics’ utilized by certain business establishments,” Malay Councilor Maylynn A. Graf said.

According to Graf, while these products offer convenience to travelers and tourists, these also a “huge” impact on the environment of Boracay and Malay. This can be seen in the growing stream of waste being generated daily, especially before Boracay was closed on April 26.

The national government declared the resort island off-limits to tourists and travelers for six months so that rehabilitation could take place.

Graf, chairman of the committee on environment, sponsored an ordinance banning single-use plastics.

If the ordinance would be realized, she said this will be considered a first in the Philippines and greatly benefit reduction in solid waste.

Graf noted the Philippines is known as the third largest in the world in terms of generating plastic waste that ends up in oceans. She didn’t say where she acquired that data.