Tourism stakeholders laud P25-B Boracay Action Plan

MANILA, Philippines — Tourism stakeholders are hoping that the approval of the P25 billion midterm Boracay Action Plan (BAP) speeds up the rehabilitation of the island which was closed for six months last year.

“We welcome the approval of the Boracay Medium Term Action Plan by Malacañang and are confident that this will continue the efforts to fully rehabilitate one of the country’s prime tourism destinations,” Tourism Congress of the Philippines (TCP) president Jose Clemente III told The STAR in a text message.

Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said President Duterte approved the BAP during the 39th Cabinet meeting on Monday.

In January, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) presented the P25-billion BAP, which will install safeguards from ecological degradation and sustain tourism activities in Boracay.

“Boracay is still an ongoing concern as work is still proceeding to complete the government’s plans when it was closed last year. We hope that the funds being allocated will speed up the rehabilitation as well as ensure its sustainability,” Clemente said.

“That said, we are also looking forward to having the same kind of assistance for the other tourist destinations around the country that may need further funding to accomplish things similar to Boracay,” he added.

NEDA earlier said the estimated total investment requirement for the BAP is P25.27 billion for all thematic areas, 64 percent or P16.21 billion of which would be allotted for infrastructure.

The indicative number of programs, projects and activities combined under all the thematic areas is 233. The private sector would finance P15.89 billion or 62.9 percent of the total cost, NEDA said.

It added that once approved by the President, the BAP would be implemented until 2022.

President Duterte ordered the six-month closure of Boracay last year after dubbing it a "cesspool" due to the environmental degradation of the island.

The island reopened on Oct. 26 after completing the first phase of its rehabilitation program. There will be two more phases of the rehab program.

At present, the island is following a carrying capacity to ensure its sustainability.

A study commissioned by the DENR showed that Boracay’s carrying capacity is only 55,757 people per day, including its residents. Only 19,215 tourists are allowed to be on the island at a certain time, with 6,405 tourists allowed to enter the island per day.

In a bid to ensure the carrying capacity of the island is met, the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) earlier implemented a moratorium on the addition of new charter flights to Caticlan and Kalibo.

Tourism Undersecretary and spokesperson Benito Bengzon Jr. emphasized that this only applies to new applications for chartered flights.

“Ensuring that we protect the environment, all of these initiatives are in line with the objective we have kept for ourselves, both the government and the private sector,” Bengzon said.

“But the challenge here is to really achieve an economic balance between such economic activity and protection of the environment,” he added. 

Block-off dates for the entry of cruise ships to Boracay were also implemented to ensure the carrying capacity of the island is met.

“The close-out dates for cruise ships were set to manage the carrying capacity of island, as there is an expected surge in tourist arrivals during the Holy Week and summer time,” DOT earlier said.

It added it will also implement more close-out dates within the year particularly on Oct. 26 to November in observance of All Saints and All Souls Day, and on Nov. 23 to Jan. 25 for the SEA Games, Christmas and the New Year.