“One of the world’s best beaches deserves a first-class airport. We join Boracay’s stakeholders in upholding this milestone as it aims to haul in a sizeable traffic of tourists and create more jobs for the people,” said Ace Durano, Secretary of Tourism. The DOT and the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) were present at the project’s recent groundbreaking led by President Gloria-Macapagal Arroyo.

The P2.507B Build, Operate and Transfer project granted to private consortium Caticlan International Airport Development Company (CIADC) began its first of three construction phases, which cover a total 7-year period.

The long-term infrastructure development includes addition of a second-level to the terminal building; upgrading of facilities such as the fire station, fencing and navigational aids; tapering of the bordering hill adjacent to the runway, lengthening and widening of the runway, installation of navigation and air traffic tower, and construction of a new 9,200 square-meter two-storey terminal building.

From 950 meters by 30 meters, the runway will be upgraded to 2,100 meters by 45 meters.

“The widening and lengthening of the runway will allow bigger aircrafts such as the Airbus to bring in more passengers straight to Caticlan,” said Durano.

The airport is currently limited to one way landing or take-off for smaller planes due to the constricted landing strip.

Environmental issues raised against the development have been promptly addressed, according to Undersecretary Eduardo Jarque, Jr., Tourism Planning and Promotions.

“An Environment Compliance Certificate was issued already, four years prior to the project launch,” said Jarque.

The DOT further maintains that there will be no leveling or flattening of the hill involved in the runway expansion, but rather a tapering of the adjacent slope to ensure passenger safety during take-off.

“The slope reduction is necessary to avoid the abrupt degree of ascent for bigger planes. This proposal was preceded by a thorough Environmental Impact Assessment,” added Attorney Victoria Jasmin, DOT Director of Office of Tourism Standards.

In 2009, Boracay received nearly 700,000 tourists from all over the country and the world.

2009 MIss Earth Beauty Pageant in Boracay

Catherine Untalan, Miss Earth Philippines executive director, said that they have been urging several stakeholders in this resort island to ensure that Boracay is clean once the candidates from all over the world arrive on November 18.

The Miss Earth Philippines recently led hundreds of volunteers from the Boracay Special Protection Office, Malay local government, Philippine Dental Association-Boracay, Philippine Coast Guard-Auxiliary, Boracay Foundation Incorporated and the Boracay executives in a coastal clean-up activity.

The activity was in coordination with the Agham group dubbed as Bora-Kay Linis 2009 (Boracay so clean).

“The Miss Earth Foundation finds Boracay as the appropriate venue for the pageant night. We hope that every sector in Boracay would cooperate as we are promoting not only Boracay but also we would give impression to the world that we can be good stewards of the environment,” Untalan said.

This year’s Philippine representative to the Miss Earth pageant is Sandra Seifert from Negros Occidental province.

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.

Mark Kirk, general manager of the Shangri-la-Boracay said that they are promoting Boracay in Europe, the United States and Latin American countries and are receiving positive feedback.

Early this year, Holywood couple Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie visited the Shangri-la Boracay as part of their vacation. Their visit was made confidential upon the request of the couple.

“We see a bright future for Boracay tourism. We are confident that our Boracay resort would be one of the best tourism attractions in this resort island,” Kirk said.

The management of the Shangri-la Boracay has opened the new hotel to officers and members of local business organizations here recently.

Vice Governor Gabrielle Calizo said that for several years already, Boracay Island has been host to several international and national sports events organized by private stakeholders in the resort island.

Among these sports events are international kite boarding and windsurfing competitions, as well as beach volleyball.

“Through the proposed P55-million Calangcang Sports Complex project in Makato, we could now be able to say that we have a sports tourism industry in the province,” Calizo said.

“The Calancang Sports Complex, when realized, will serve as alternative tourism destination for sports in the next few years. We could hopefully invite sports organizers to do their sports events in Calangcang or in Boracay Island,” said Calizo.

She added that this endeavor would create additional livelihood for local residents as many groups of athletes will be coming all over the region next year.

“Of course, the athletes will buy their food, personal necessities and ‘pasalubong’ in Aklan, thus creating opportunities for the locals,” Calizo said.

Meanwhile, the Aklan provincial government will receive on Friday the Western Visayas Private Schools Athletic Association (WVPRISAA) flag from Capiz province as a signal that Aklan is prepared to host the regional athletic competitions next year.