Local officials of Aklan have been asked to explain why the number of tourists in Boracay exceeded the maximum carrying capacity during the Holy Week, The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said on Wednesday, April 20.
In a news briefing, DILG Undersecretary Epimaco Densing confirmed having sent letters to Aklan Gov. Florencio Miraflors and Acting Malay Mayor Floribar Bautista to remind them that the tourist carrying capacity of Boracay island should not go beyond its limit of 19,215.
Otherwise magkakaroon ng negatibong epekto sa environment o kalikasan ng Boracay. So kasama sa warning ay kapag patuloy pa rin lumampas ito sa carrying capacity ay maaari na namin silang (LGU officials) bigyan ng show-cause-order para magpaliwanag bakit nila pinahihintulutan na lumampas sa carrying capacity ang mga turistang pumapasok sa Boracay Island (this will have a negative effect on the environment of Boracay. The warning includes, if there is a continuous crowding (of tourists) we can issue them show-cause-orders to explain why they allowed the carrying capacity of the tourists entering Boracay to go over the limit,’’ Densing explained.
Reports revealed that there was overcrowding of tourists that exceeded the carrying limit in Boracay Island, specifically on April 14 and 15.
Based on the explanation of Aklan officials, Densing noted that there was an influx of tourists on April 13 estimating that there were about 12,000 arrivals in the island.
He added that this resulted in the sudden entry of a large number of people on the island on April 14 and 15.
“Pero dahil umalis na sila (some tourists) nung April 16 bumagsak na from 22,000 to I think 18,000 nung pagdating nung April 16 (But since they left on April 16 their number went down from 22,000 to I think 18,000 on April 16),’’ he added.
With the decreased number of tourists in the island, Densing stressed that local officials with their monitoring teams should limit the arrivals between 6,000 to 7,000 to ensure that the island’s carrying capacity does not go over 19,000.
If the number of tourists still exceeds the desired numbers due to negligence or done on purpose, Densing said the local officials of the island will be asked to officially explain.
“Otherwise, they can be held administratively liable for exceeding the requirements of government particularly, sa (in the) carrying capacity ng (of) Boracay Island,’’ Densing pointed out.
The DILG officials revealed that at present the government has no plan to adjust the island’s carrying capacity subject to review every three to five years.
Regarding the traditional ‘Laboracay celebration’ on May 1 in the island, Densing maintained that this will not be allowed unless the Department of Tourism (DOT) has a change of heart.
In a recent meeting with the other concerned agencies, Densing noted the adverse effects of the ‘Laboracay’ celebration where the clustering of people generates huge piles of garbage. (Chito A. Chavez)