Demolition of Illegal Structures In Boracay Continues To Go On Until ‘No-build Zones’ Are Cleared

By Nestor Burgos, Jr.

The demolition of illegal structures along the beaches of the resort island will continue until the "no-build zones" are all cleared, Tourism Secretary Joseph "Ace" Durano said.
"It is for the common good," Durano said, adding, "due process has been followed and the rights of business owners, especially those affected by the clearing up of structures, are being respected."
He said, notices had been issued to resort owners who had built structures within the 25-meters area from the coastline.
According to Durano, aside from the clearing up of the shoreline, government agencies like the Philippine Tourism Authority would also work for the improvement of the drainage and sewerage system of Boracay, the country’s prime tourist destination.
A group of resort and business owners on the island welcomed the clearing up operations."We support the implementation of ordinances that aim to clear the beaches and make our streets safer," Nenette Aguirre-Graf, president of the Boracay Foundation, Inc., said in a telephone interview.Graf said the clearing of illegal structures have been implemented from Boat Station 1 at the northern tip of the island to Boat Station 3 in the south.
"Our beaches are clear and look nicer," Graf said. She stressed, most operators who were notified about their violations voluntarily cleared or removed the structures 10 days before the clearing up operations began.
But Graf said guidelines on the removal of structures should be adopted. Some resort owners have complained that even decorative plants were uprooted and destroyed when they could have been transferred, Graf added.
She also said there were also complaints that temporary structures and objects like chairs and tables were removed from the area covered by the clearing up despite having temporary permits while construction is ongoing in their resorts.
The sustainability of development of the island has became urgent as tourist arrivals continued to increase reaching 499,457 last year which is 16.48 percent higher than the 428,755 recorded in 2004 which has contributed P8.18 billion to the economy last year, 38 percent higher than the P7.88 billion earned in 2004. /MP mailto:madyaas_pen@yahoo.com