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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Luzon devider DENR-6 seeks more talks on Boracay's new carrying capacity

DENR-6 seeks more talks on Boracay's new carrying capacity

Published Jul 18, 2024 06:28 am

ILOILO CITY – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Western Visayas is eyeing more discussions on the approval of an updated carrying capacity for world-famous Boracay Island in Malay town, Aklan province.

“More proper discussions are needed to come up with the proper numbers,” said newly installed DENR-6 Regional Director Raul Lorilla.

BORACAY.jpeg

PEOPLE walk on the white sand beach in Boracay Island. (Tara Yap)

The updated carrying capacity – the ideal amount of people per day on the island – has yet to be approved by the DENR Central Office in Quezon City.

A government inter-agency task force initially enforced the carrying capacity when Boracay reopened to tourists late October 2018 after then President Rodrigo Duterte ordered a six-month tourism closure due to overdevelopment.

Boracay’s carrying capacity that time was a maximum of 6,405 tourists. With an average stay of three days per visitor, the island had only a carrying capacity of 19,215 tourists per day.

When pandemic restrictions were lifted, the number of Boracay tourists soared beyond the daily capacity.

Boracay recorded more than double the allowed tourists during this year’s Holy Week and last year’s Holy Week.

There were 13,000 visitors during Maundy Thursday in 2024 and 16,000 in Maundy Thursday in 2023.

The DENR-6 did disclose the new proposed carrying capacity for Boracay.

“There is no final decision yet on the adjusted numbers,” Lorilla said during the Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas organized by the Philippine Information Agency (PIA)-6 on Thursday, July 18.

Boracay’s new carrying capacity might include keeping the island sustainable in the context of new tourism investments.

The DENR-6 reiterated the proposal of reducing the population of Boracay by requiring workers to reside in mainland Malay town.

“That way, Boracay will be less crowded and the visitors can enjoy it better,” Lorilla said.

Lorilla said there is also a proposal to create separate carrying capacity for people and transportation, whether vans, tricycles, or e-tricycles.

The DENR-6 and its attached agencies are coordinating with local government units (LGUs) in Aklan province, Malay, Department of Tourism (DOT), and Boracay businesses for further discussions on Boracay’s updated carrying capacity.

Related Tags

Boracay Island DENR Western Visayas
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