Mayor alcala warns Panglao may become as crowded as Boracay

CEBU, Philippines - Panglao town Mayor Benedicto Alcala has warned resort owners and other beach front investors that the tourist town will soon become as crowded as Boracay if they continue ignoring the development policy of the municipal government.

The mayor found it alarming when media people from Manila and Cebu, who recently visited Panglao, noticed that the Alona beach area was so crowded already with establishments rising side by side, practically without any breathing space at all.

Alcala expressed lament that most resort owners, especially foreigners, wanted to have their way and refuse to follow the development design and policies that he had introduced. He also chided at some members of the Municipal Council for constantly opposing his proposals, coupled with allegations that he has been benefitting from these projects and new policies.

While calling on the councilors to give him the benefit of the doubt, Alcala also reminded establishments lining the beach front of Panglao that they should maintain cleanliness and put up proper sewerage system to avoid contaminating the seawaters.

Commercial pumpboat operators should also anchor their sea vessels farther from the beach side, said the mayor, adding that it can be noticed that there is almost nothing left for the swimmers because of the moored pumpboats.

Alcala further observed that the Alona area no longer look like the paradise as what it was marketed before.

Councilor Walter Sultan, for his part, explained that they in the Council have not been opposing all the plans of the mayor just for the purpose of opposing. He said they were just doing their job for them to be efficient legislators of the town.

Architect and urban planner Felino Palafox Jr., of the Makati-based Palafox Associates, had once advised Alcala and the municipal officials to learn from the Boracay experience. He discouraged the do nothing (donut) development wherein development concentrates on the beachfront with nothing being done at the center of the island.

The only thing that Palafox found worth copying from Boracay is leaving the beachfront open to the public and to uphold the required salvage zone.

Palafox had been commissioned by the previous provincial administration to draft a masterplan for Panglao island, which comprises the municipalities of Panglao and Dauis, and he came up with an airport-driven resort island development.

He also proposed green urbanism wherein environment protection is balanced with development wherein he put premium on a pedestrian-friendly, environment-friendly and compact development.

In this design Palafox suggested the integration of places for living, working and playing in proximate distance with each other.