SMC, Petron join hands to save Boracay Island

MANILA, Philippines –  San Miguel Corp. (SMC) and its majority-owned unit Petro Corp. have joined hands to save Boracay Island, the country’s number one tourist destination.

The two companies recently forged an agreement with the province of Aklan, the municipality of Malay and Boracay Foundation Inc. (BFI) to launch the Boracay Beach Management Program (BBMP).

BBMP is a communal commitment and a continuous effort by various stakeholders of Boracay to proactively take part in preserving the island’s pristine natural environment. It uses the global framework of integrated coastal management (ICM), which aims to address pressures caused by multiple marine and coastal usages by locals and tourists alike.

This long-term program is in line with Executive Order 533 that adopts ICM as a national strategy to ensure the sustainable development of the country’s coastal and marine environment and resources.

Furthermore, the Malay town council has institutionalized the ICM program with a resolution adopting the Boracay Beach Management Program of the local government.

“As a staunch advocate of the environment, our commitment to Boracay Island goes beyond economic growth,” Petron Foundation director Malu G. Erni said. “We are one with the community and the local government in developing and implementing sustainable programs that will protect the island’s natural resources and will empower residents and visitors to join in this collective responsibility.”

The implementation of ICM focuses on seven priority programs that address the critical needs of the island: water and waste water management; hazard prevention; coastal resource management; watershed management; solid waste management; effective governance; and information, education and communication.

To ensure the implementation of BBMP, a technical working group under the Boracay Beach Management Council was established with representatives from local government, the business community, and concerned local residents: local government of Malay, Petron, SMC, BFI, Petron Foundation, Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Region 6, Boracay Island Water Co., Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI)-Boracay, Department of Tourism-Boracay, Aklan Provincial Tourism Council, MARICOM, Philippine Army, Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine National Police, TIEZA, TUBI, barangays Balabag, Cabulihan, Caticlan, Manoc-Manoc, Nabaoy and Yapak, and the academe.

As an ICM initiative, Petron has been spearheading the Bataan Integrated Coastal Management Program (BICMP) in partnership with the provincial government of Bataan, Bataan Coastal Care Foundation and the Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia (PEMSEA) over the last 10 years. Petron is also a part of the establishment and implementation of the ICM program for Guimaras Island.

Considered the jewel of Philippine tourism, Boracay is a paradise island and a world-renowned destination for tourists coming from different parts of the globe. It has gained global popularity for its powder-white sand and crystal-clear waters.

“While we enjoy the growing tourism and commerce that the island attracts, we are deeply concerned about the environmental implications which the continuous influx of people unintentionally brings,” Malay Mayor John Yap said. “We are determined to maintain and constantly rehabilitate the island. The launch of BBMP is just the beginning of a lot of work to be accomplished within the program’s five-year scope towards sustainable development.”

To jumpstart the BBMP, Yap launched an anti-littering program which imposes a fine for littering. The day-long launch of BBMP began with hundreds of residents, joined by resort owners and government employees, marching from both ends of the island’s White Beach and picking up trash along the shoreline.

All these initiatives are captured under the slogan “Para sa Boracay Ako! (For Boracay I Will!”) which was also launched the same day. The catchy phrase is a statement of love for the island and a personal commitment for everyone to do small acts of environmental responsibility and make it a way of life.