Arroyo Puts Boracay Under PTA

First posted 00:43am (Mla time) May 30, 2006
By Nestor P. Burgos Jr. (Philippine Daily Inquirer)

ILOILO CITY—President Macapagal-Arroyo has placed the island-resort of Boracay under the administrative control of the Philippine Tourism Authority (PTA).

Memorandum Order No. 214, signed in April and released last week, placed the world renowned island resort under PTA control to ensure the sustainable development of the country’s prime tourist destination, said Edwin Trompeta, tourism regional director in Western Visayas.

Under the order, the PTA control would be exercised through the Eminent Person’ Group (EPG) in coordination with the Aklan provincial government and the municipality of Malay where Boracay is located.

Capacity
Ms Arroyo last year created the EPG to oversee the development of the island amid growing concerns over unplanned and uncontrolled development of the island that could go beyond its carrying capacity.

Headed by businessman Iñigo Zobel, the EPG is mandated to map out policies for the sustainable development of the island’s tourism industry.

Trompeta said the order was in line with the PTA’s mandate to control and manage tourism zones and areas in Boracay.

The order was also based on Presidential Proclamation 1801 issued by the late President Ferdinand Marcos on Nov. 10, 1978.

The proclamation placed several islands and coves, including Boracay, as tourist zones and marine reserves under the administration and control of the PTA.

The lands were categorized as public-owned and the government has the prerogative on the management and utilization of its resources.

Building supervision
Trompeta said that under the memorandum, the construction of buildings and structures in Boracay would be subject to PTA approval.

Operations of support services and infrastructures, like ports, would also be under the supervision of the PTA.

Currently, the construction of structures and operations of support infrastructures are being supervised by the municipal and provincial governments.

Trompeta said they are still waiting for the implementing rules that would define the scope of the PTA’s authority and the administrative body that would be created.

He welcomed the order as an initial step in the creation of a regular management authority that would govern the development of the island.

Tourism haven
Tourist arrivals in the island-resort of Boracay enjoy a continued upswing, records from the tourism department showed.

The number of visitors last year reached 499,457, 16.48 percent higher than the 428,755 recorded in 2004.

The tourists poured in P8.18 billion which is 38 percent higher than the P7.88 billion that the island earned in 2004.