PCCI-Visayas endorses proposed Bida Law

Various chambers of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) in Visayas has forged a joint resolution urging President Rodrigo Duterte to certify the Senate Bill No. 1756 as urgent.

The senate bill, known as the creation of the Boracay Island Development Authority (Bida), was authored by Senator Franklin Drilon. The lower house has a similar version of this, which is from Congressman Albee Benitez.

Signatories of the joint resolution include Donna Rose Ratilla, PCCI regional governor for Western Visayas; Edward Du, regional governor for Central Visayas; Ramel Buncalan, PCCI-Aklan president; Lawyer Joebert Penaflorida, PCCI-president Iloilo; Ma. Elena Brugger, president of PCCI-Boracay; Ronald So, president of PCCI-Capiz; and Roberto Montelibano, president of the PCCI-Metro Bacolod.

Francisco Martinez, president of the Negros Oriental-PCCI; Vicente Lagunday, president of PCCI-Antique; and Neptune Pittman, president of Guimaras-PCCI are yet to sign the resolution.

The joint resolution was approved during the Visayas Area Business Conference held in Tacloban City, Leyte, on Friday, August 24.

“The swift passage of Senate Bill No. 1756 into law will ensure the full rehabilitation and conservation of the island into a sustainable tourism destination,” the resolution read.

“The Governing Board of the Authority shall be composed of the representatives from various national government agencies, provincial and local government and the local business chambers,” it added.

It could be recalled that President Duterte ordered the closure of Boracay in 2018 to undergo six months environmental rehabilitation.

Meanwhile, the Municipal Council of Malay is planning to schedule a public hearing for their approval on the said bill.

Malay Councilor Dante Pagsuguiron during his privileged speech Tuesday, August 20, said that he also wanted to know the full content of the Bida law so that it would be clear to the residents of Boracay.

“The bill may have a higher chances of being approved by President Duterte,” he said.