‘Barge plan may ruin Boracay’

Residents and hotel operators of resort island Boracay are protesting the move to transfer the Metro Manila garbage dumpsite to Semirara island in Antique, citing its disastrous effects on the island’s tourism industry.

"If it pushes through, this will be worse than the coliform issue which paralyzed the operations of Boracay barely three years ago," Waling Waling Beach Hotel owner Orlando Sacay said.

This apprehension was echoed by Philippine Tourism Authority (PTA) General Manager Nixon Kua who appealed to the government to reconsider its plan to barge Metro Manila’ garbage to the island.

In an interview yesterday, Kua aired his concern about the implications of the project on the tourism industry in and around Antique.

Specifically, Kua was concerned about the possibility of an environmental disaster that may result from the use of barges to ship the garbage. He explained that on some occasions, the current of the waters surrounding Semirara moves to the direction of Boracay, which is only some 65 kilometers away.

"If the barge capsizes there, all of the garbage would move towards Boracay," Kua said.

The possibility of water contamination in case of leachate leakage was also cited by Kua as a cause for concern.

Kua noted that the PTA allocates hundreds of millions of pesos for the treatment of the sewage and the supply of clean water in Boracay.

Semirara island in Caluya, Antique actually lies adjacent to the world-famous Boracay island resort and is about 30 minutes away by boat. "During the "habagat" season, which occurs from June to October every year, the direction of the wind shifts towards Boracay," Sacay said.

Kua also cited his apprehensions about the route of the barges which would pass a number of prime tourist destinations. Virgin areas such as the Verde Islands near Lobo, Batangas, Puerto Galera in Mindoro and Tablas Island in Romblon would also face risks from the barges.

However, in fairness to the government, Kua said that the PTA would not object if assurance can be given that the barges are properly covered and other environmental safeguards are implemented.