World-famous Boracay Island might lose its unique white sand beaches in 30 years or less if authorities push through with plans of flattening a hill in northern Caticlan, Aklan province to make way for extension of its airport’s runway.

Boracay News

Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Mines and Geosciences Bureau (DENR-MGB) geologist Dr. Ricarte Javellosa warned that levelling such hill to the ground would change wind patterns in the area, causing white sand particles in the vicinity to be moved and deposited in Tablas Strait, instead of Boracay Island.

”Boracay’s white sand beaches can be gone in no time,” he said on the side of Kapihan sa Sulo forum.

He raised necessity of maintaining the mound, noting ‘Amihan’ and ‘Habagat’ winds converging in Caticlan on each side of the hill are deflected towards Boracay Island, enabling these to transport white sand particles there.

”If the hill is eliminated, there’ll be no deflection anymore so wind will bring these particles elsewhere,” he said.

Javellosa said authorities must review the environmental clearance certificate issued by the DENR to the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC)-initiated P2.5-billion runway expansion project.

DENR issued the ECC in 2006 to give way for the development of the Caticlan airport into and an international facility, Javellosa said.

Javellosa also said that upgrading of the Caticlan airport into an international facility would jeopardize tourism in Manila, traditionally the country’s main international gateway.

”Tourists won’t be passing through Manila anymore since they’ll be flying directly to Boracay via Caticlan,” he said.

He said project proponents need not extend the existing 950-meter runway by some 2.1 kilometers stretching all the way to the hill and beyond since confining its additional length to the required 1.6 kilometers only will enable the airport to meet domestic demand already.

”Extending the runway across the hill will also require government to spend extra for purchasing such land,” he said.

Limiting the runway’s additional length to what’s required only won’t cost as much because the State already acquired land covered by this distance, he said.

Aside from compromising Boracay Island’s white sand beaches, Javellosa warned of other environmental nightmares which he said might ensue if authorities level the hill to the ground.

”This will destroy Boracay’s very good micro-climate conditions which are necessary in beach formation,” he said, referring to rain and warm weather occurring on either side of the hill.

He also cited drying up of lakes as among environmental disasters from such destruction.

”Hydrologic distortion will happen,” he warned.

Javellosa also expects Caticlan to experience stronger earthquakes if the hill is levelled to the ground.

”That hill is a seismic dissipater so it’ll be a pity to lose it,” he said.

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