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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Visayas devider Malay town in Aklan, where Boracay is located, eyes cityhood

Malay town in Aklan, where Boracay is located, eyes cityhood

Published Oct 6, 2025 03:42 pm
THE stretch of world-famous Boracay Island in Malay town, Aklan province. (Tara Yap)
THE stretch of world-famous Boracay Island in Malay town, Aklan province. (Tara Yap)
ILOILO CITY—Malay, a town in Aklan province most famous for world-famous Boracay Island, is eyeing cityhood.
Residents gathered for a public consultation on Monday, Oct. 6, to discuss the proposal of Aklan second district Rep. Florencio “Joeben” Miraflores.
“The municipality of Malay, province of Aklan, is a first-class municipality that has long served as one of the Philippines' foremost tourism and economic gateways,” said Miraflores in his explanatory note for House Bill No. 4415.
“Anchored by the global destination of Boracay, Malay contributes to Aklan's income of billions of pesos annually through tourism revenues, sustains thousands of livelihoods, and contributes significantly to national economic growth,” added Miraflores.
Miraflores’ bill seeks to reclassify Malay from a first-class municipality to a component city in Aklan.
Malay as a municipality was created via Republic Act No. 381 when Aklan was still part of Capiz province.
Its road to cityhood started in 2010 when the Sangguniang Bayan (SB) of Malay passed a resolution to create an ad hoc committee to study the cityhood, but nothing came out of it.
The town’s legislative resolution was again repeated in 2014, but did not prosper again.
By 2019, then acting and incumbent Mayor Mayor Frolibar Bautista issued an executive order to create a technical working group that coordinated with government agencies and other local government units (LGUs) to study cityhood.
By 2021, former Aklan second district Rep. Teodorico "Ted” Haresco Jr. filed a bill to formalize the proposal of Malay officials.
It was pending during both the 18th and 19th Congress and was revised this year by Miraflores.
Miraflores believes Malay meets all requirements as stipulated in a 2022 law that amended the Local Government Code for conversions of municipalities and cities.

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Boracay Malay Aklan Cityhood
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