Boracay open but some islanders feel left out
By Roel Tibay
Published Dec 11, 2018 18:42 pm
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Updated Dec 11, 2018 18:42 pm
By Tara Yap
ILOILO CITY—Boracay in Aklan has reopened to tourists, but several workers and residents now worry about reclaiming the livelihood they lost when the island resort was closed down.
(Tara Yap/ MANILA BULLETIN)
“It is disheartening that the world observed International Human Rights Day last Monday, but the victims of Boracay closure are still crying for justice,” said Olive Abañera of We Are Boracay, a multi-sectoral group.
After the country’s most famous beach destination in Malay town reopened last Oct. 26, new rules were strictly imposed. Authorities explained the rules were meant to preserve the gains from Boracay’s environmental clean-up.
For instance, making sand castles for commercial purposes has been banned because it is supposed to damage beaches. Police and deputized men have been seen kicking sand sculptures to destroy them.
“But these people (sand sculptors) only want to earn a living for their families,” Abañera said.
Another problem is the lack of relocation sites for thousands of families squatting in wetlands.
We Are Boracay and Leaders of Rise Up Aklan groups submitted position papers to Aklan Gov. Florencio Miraflores last week and appealed to facilitate in addressing the concerns.
It was a follow-up to the October 19 dialogue with Miraflores, who is said to have promised to relay the grievances of the displaced workers and locals to the Boracay Inter-Agency Task Force consisting of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), and Department of Tourism (DOT).
(Tara Yap/ MANILA BULLETIN)
“It is disheartening that the world observed International Human Rights Day last Monday, but the victims of Boracay closure are still crying for justice,” said Olive Abañera of We Are Boracay, a multi-sectoral group.
After the country’s most famous beach destination in Malay town reopened last Oct. 26, new rules were strictly imposed. Authorities explained the rules were meant to preserve the gains from Boracay’s environmental clean-up.
For instance, making sand castles for commercial purposes has been banned because it is supposed to damage beaches. Police and deputized men have been seen kicking sand sculptures to destroy them.
“But these people (sand sculptors) only want to earn a living for their families,” Abañera said.
Another problem is the lack of relocation sites for thousands of families squatting in wetlands.
We Are Boracay and Leaders of Rise Up Aklan groups submitted position papers to Aklan Gov. Florencio Miraflores last week and appealed to facilitate in addressing the concerns.
It was a follow-up to the October 19 dialogue with Miraflores, who is said to have promised to relay the grievances of the displaced workers and locals to the Boracay Inter-Agency Task Force consisting of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), and Department of Tourism (DOT).